Liverpool news as Ibrahima Konate gets contract update and Jurgen Klopp admission

Ibrahima Konate's contract situation remains uncertain as Liverpool sits fifth in the Premier League, while Jurgen Klopp admits to the awkwardness of his Anfield return amid Arne Slot's struggles

Ibrahima Konate is out of contract in the summer(Image: Getty Images)

Arne Slot's second-season struggles at Liverpool have been further compounded by Jurgen Klopp's recent return to Anfield.

The Reds' defense of their Premier League title has been woeful, with the Dutchman currently guiding the club to fifth place in the table. The likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have been hampered by injuries and inconsistent form, leaving Liverpool looking like a pale imitation of the side that dominated the league last campaign.

With the Reds poised to once again dip into the transfer market this summer, a replacement for Mohamed Salah will now be an urgent priority following confirmation that he will depart Anfield at the end of the season.

Liverpool's sole remaining hope of silverware now hinges entirely on the Champions League, following the team's humiliating 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in Saturday's FA Cup quarterfinal.

Meanwhile, the uncertainty surrounding Ibrahima Konate's Merseyside future has taken a fresh twist, as Klopp spoke candidly about the awkwardness of his return to the club. Here's the latest news from Anfield...

Konate latest

Among the uncertainty hanging over several members of Liverpool's squad, the situation regarding Ibrahima Konate could well be the most pressing concern.

With his contract expiring at the end of the season, talks over a fresh deal with the France international have reportedly ground to a halt, leaving his future very much in doubt. The 26-year-old was previously associated with a potential switch to Real Madrid.

Nevertheless, according to Fabrizio Romano, Los Blancos informed the Reds they were not actively pursuing him earlier this campaign, and Konate remains receptive to continuing on Merseyside. However, with the anticipated exit of David Alaba at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, Madrid is understood to have been assessing center-back alternatives.

Konate gave Liverpool fans hope for the future during a recent interview with ESPN FC. He said: "When we win the league or the Champions League, people will forget every bad season we had. We won the league last season, but two seasons before that we were in the Europa League. But people don't talk about this anymore. This is just part of the success.

"We have to be relaxed because we have amazing fans and we have to stay together and the success will come, for sure. Maybe this season or maybe in the future for sure."

Klopp's admission

The former Reds manager made his comeback to Anfield last week for Liverpool Legends' 2-2 stalemate with Borussia Dortmund in the club's annual charity fixture.

Jurgen Klopp recently returned to Anfield(Image: Getty Images)

The appearance of the legendary German inside the stadium he revitalized was warmly embraced by the capacity crowd who serenaded his name within 60 seconds of kick-off.

His return undoubtedly coincided with a period in which many Liverpool supporters would have been casting their minds back to his tenure, amid the difficulties Arne Slot has encountered this season. Amid questions about whether the Dutchman should continue in his role, Klopp acknowledged that his presence on Merseyside came at a challenging moment.

Speaking at an LFC Foundation fundraiser ahead of the Legends match, the 58-year-old said: "First, it was going so good [for Liverpool under Slot], and I didn't want to jinx it. Then it's going not so good, and I didn't want to show my face.

"But I had to because I committed to this so long ago."