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Liverpool is reportedly confident of tying Ibrahima Konate to a new contract, despite apparent interest from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
The French center-back's current Anfield deal is due to expire at the end of the season, and he remains on the same terms he signed upon joining the Reds from RB Leipzig in 2021.
Earlier this year it was suggested that Konate was asking for a pay rise from £80,000 ($105,000) per week to £200,000 ($263,000) per week, and there has not been much progress in talks in recent months.
However, L'Equipe is now reporting that Liverpool is confident of keeping hold of the 26-year-old, who has been Arne Slot's preferred partner for Virgil van Dijk throughout the Dutchman's time at Anfield.
Konate does not give many interviews, and has not spoken publicly about his future since May, when he talked about his goals with the club.
"I know I have a lot of objectives with this club: to become a leader, to win everything," Konate told reporters after Liverpool won the league. "I am very happy here to be fair.
"This is another conversation with the club and my agent, we will see what will happen in the next few weeks or I don't know when, but we will see, let me say that.
"[Are the talks] progressing? Not really, but my agent met the club last week, but I don't know what will happen. I cannot say what my agent said to me but yeah, we will see what will happen."
Konate is believed to have turned down several contract offers from the Reds as he has not been happy with the terms offered to him.
A few days ago, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher told the Daily Mail that the Reds would be fine if Konate were to leave. "I’d like him to stay, but if he doesn’t stay, Liverpool will sign someone else. Liverpool won’t fall apart if Konate leaves.
"He's not Virgil van Dijk. He's a good center-back who you hope will sign, but if he doesn’t want to sign, Liverpool will be absolutely fine.
"He's a very good center-back, he's a title winner at Liverpool, he's played in the Champions League final against Real Madrid. He's obviously a quality center-back.
"It's not poor management [if he goes for free]. You can't physically make somebody sign a contract. Then it's your decision, do you keep him to the length of his contract or do you sell him?"
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