Arne Slot handed boost as journalist claims key Liverpool star will sign a new deal with the club
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been handed a massive boost as Ibrahima Konate is likely to sign a contract extension at the club, as per journalist James Pearce. He has claimed that Konate is happy at Anfield and there shouldn't be any issues for him to sign a new deal with the Reds.
Pearce stated (via The Boot Room):
"We know that there’s obviously a lot of talk about contracts at the minute. We know that Konate has been in talks with the club about an extension. I don’t think that there’ll be any problems on that front. I think he’s very happy where he is for Liverpool and it’s an absolute no-brainer to get him tied down for the best years of his career."
Konate has been one of the most underrated centre-backs in the Premier League since joining the Reds in the summer of 2021. The Merseysiders signed him from RB Leipzig for a reported fee of £36 million on a five-year deal, which is set to expire in June 2026.
The 25-year-old has made 102 appearances across competitions, helping Liverpool win four trophies to date. While he's had multiple injuries over the years, he has been at the top of his game alongside Virgil van Dijk this season under Arne Slot. He's made 12 appearances in total, keeping seven clean sheets.
Konate being likely to extend his contract would be a massive boost for the Reds. The latter are already in the midst of holding talks with Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose contracts are set to expire next summer.
"I like their playing style a lot" - Liverpool boss Arne Slot highlights Brighton's threat level ahead of EFL Cup clash
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has praised Brighton & Hove Albion for their effective playing style. He also highlighted the Seagulls' efficiency in the transfer market due to their ability to sign the right players for the right price.
Liverpool are set to face Brighton at the Falmer Stadium later tonight (Wednesday, October 30) for their EFL Cup Round of 16 fixture. The two sides will face off in the Premier League at Anfield on Saturday, November 2.
During the pre-match press conference, Slot said (via Liverpool's official website):
"Very good idea about football for many years already. I like their playing style a lot with their former manager already and with this one as well. And I think what makes the club Brighton, in my opinion, special is that maybe [they do not have] the most money in the league when they buy the players – but they always find the right ones."
He added:
"So, there is a lot of quality, although also for them the transfer fees go up a bit but they are not spending £100 million on a player. They always find the right ones. So, many quality players to pick and a very good playing style."
Despite losing Roberto De Zerbi over the summer, Brighton have continued to flourish under new manager Fabian Hurzeler. The Seagulls are currently sixth in the league table with 16 points from nine games, having lost just one game to date.