Ibrahima Konaté has turned down a new contract with Liverpool, sparking concerns that another key player could run down his deal following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid this summer.

The French defender, 26, enters the final year of his contract next month and has reportedly rejected Liverpool’s initial extension offer.

Konaté’s talks were delayed as Liverpool prioritized negotiations with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk last season, both of whom signed two-year deals in April. Only then did securing the Dutchman’s defensive partner become a priority.

However, Konaté is said to be dissatisfied with the structure of Liverpool’s offer, which heavily relies on performance-based incentives. His representatives are pushing for a higher base salary to reflect his importance to the team.

If Liverpool fail to secure the defender’s signature before the summer ends, they face a dilemma, amplified by the backlash over Alexander-Arnold’s exit. Although the Reds received £10m for Alexander-Arnold, driven by Real Madrid’s urgency to register him for the Club World Cup, that fee was a fraction of his true value.

Now, the Spanish giants are circling Konaté, continuing their strategy of targeting young, prime talents without overpaying.