'It is understood': Journalist drops decisive Konate contract update after Frenchman struggles against PSG

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Ibrahima Konate is advancing towards signing a new contract at Liverpool, according to journalist David Lynch.The French defender’s future has been up in the air for a good while, with his current deal scheduled to expire at the end of June.After it had initially looked as though he would depart as a free agent, a breakthrough was seemingly made with Konate in March, with Lynch claiming that a positive conclusion is very close to being reached. Do you still think Liverpool can turn the quarter-final around at Anfield?

2-0 down vs PSG, it's going to be some ask from here… Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images Konate talks ‘advancing towards conclusion’Although Konate struggled during Wednesday’s loss against PSG, he has been far better recently, and many supporters would still prefer to see the 26-year-old stay.Replacing him with a centre-back of similar quality would be difficult, and as Virgil van Dijk enters the final year of his own deal, tying Konate down feels important for Liverpool.Thankfully, as Lynch reports on his Substack column after the Reds were beaten in Paris, talks look likely to reach a conclusion in the very near future, with Konate seemingly set to stay. THE FINAL: Who do you want to see as Liverpool manager next season? ⏩ A fresh face in Alonso, or the iconic Klopp?

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images READ MORE: Hugo Ekitike might not last much longer at Liverpool after becoming the anti-Roberto Firmino“The problems [against PSG] were not just restricted to summer additions, either, with previously reliable stars such as Ryan Gravenberch and Ibrahima Konate struggling,” said the journalist.“One of those players recently signed a new long-term deal, and it is understood that discussions over the other doing the same are now advancing towards a conclusion after an initial impasse.”As Konate’s struggles in Paris highlighted, not everybody will be completely onboard with keeping him. But in a summer where Liverpool have plenty of things to sort out, taking one more off the list and extending the contract of a really important player should be seen as nothing but a positive.