Liverpool ‘abandon pursuit’ of player just hours before Man City showdown
Arne Slot’s Liverpool could be on the verge of losing another key player.
Reports suggest the Reds have ‘given up’ hope of keeping one of their star men at Anfield — news that has surfaced just hours before their crucial clash with Manchester City.
Slot’s side are aiming to defend their Premier League crown but currently trail early leaders Arsenal by eight points. A win at the Etihad this afternoon would see them cut that gap to five.
Liverpool have recently rediscovered their form after enduring four consecutive league defeats — their worst run since Slot replaced Jürgen Klopp.
The summer brought major changes at Anfield, with over £400 million spent on signings such as Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike, and Alexander Isak. Meanwhile, notable departures included Darwin Núñez, Luis Díaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold’s exit was particularly controversial among supporters. The academy graduate refused to extend his contract with his boyhood club and joined Real Madrid for a reported £8.4 million, allowing him to feature in last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
He made an emotional return to Anfield earlier this week when Real faced Liverpool in the Champions League — a match decided by an Alexis Mac Allister goal.
Now, another Liverpool defender, Ibrahima Konaté, could follow in Alexander-Arnold’s footsteps and move to Madrid. The Frenchman, who regularly partners Virgil van Dijk in defence, is entering the final year of his contract. Despite discussions over an extension, no agreement has been reached.
As a result, Konaté could leave for free next summer and will be eligible to negotiate a pre-contract with clubs outside England from January.
According to Spanish outlet AS, published just hours before the City game, Liverpool have effectively ‘given up’ on keeping the 25-year-old.
The report claims: “Konaté, a Liverpool player like Trent before him, is taking a cautious approach to Real Madrid’s interest — step by step, carefully but surely. In fact, at Anfield, they’ve already given up on him.”
