Konate set to leave Liverpool on a free transfer

Konate set to leave Liverpool on a free transferImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Konate has won a Premier League, an FA Cup, and two League Cups during his time at AnfieldByAadam PatelFootball reporterPublished1 minute agoIbrahima Konate is set to leave Liverpool for free when his current contract expires in June.The French defender and Liverpool are likely to part ways due to a gap between Liverpool and Konate's position, in terms of value and wages.Konate, 27, signed for Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 for £35m on a five-year deal.Both parties were initially keen to agree a contract renewal, with Konate telling reporters in April after the Merseyside derby that he was "close to an agreement" and there was a "big chance" that he would remain at Anfield next season. Negotiations began in November 2023, though an agreement has proved elusive.BBC Sport understands that negotiations have stopped and Konate will become the latest player to leave the club on a free after Trent Alexander-Arnold who left last summer, Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah, who will leave the club this summer.Captain Virgil van Dijk's current deal expires next summer, while the club failed to sign Marc Guehi on deadline day last September, with the England player joining Manchester City in January.Liverpool are confident they have sufficient depth at centre-half after recruiting Giovanni Leoni last summer and the arrival of Jeremy Jacquet this summer.But it does leave Van Dijk, 34, as their only experienced central defender.The belief within Liverpool is that other areas - like replacing Mohamed Salah and filling the gap after Hugo Ekitike's injury - are priorities, rather than agreeing to an expensive renewal for Konate.Related topicsFootballLiverpoolPremier LeagueMore on this storyLatest Liverpool news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about Liverpool - what do you want to know?