Liverpool
Van Dijk and Slot urge Liverpool to settle Ibrahima Konaté contract as talks stall
Van Dijk and Arne Slot urge Liverpool to resolve Ibrahima Konaté contract amid stalled talks. today.
Virgil van Dijk has publicly called on Liverpool to conclude a new contract with centre-back Ibrahima Konaté, and manager Arne Slot has echoed that wish as negotiations continue without resolution.
“Obviously I want him to stay,” Van Dijk said. “He’s an important figure on the pitch. That, everyone sees, but off the pitch as well. He’s one of the leaders and he’s an outstanding and, in my eyes, world-class centre back.
“I can only do so much, but it’s in the club’s hands, together with his agents and himself, so let’s see what comes out of it. But I have no influence otherwise on that.
Slot, who described Konaté as a “vital” piece of the team, added: “We are in talks with him so that tells you what we want. It’s clear we would like him to stay but negotiations are ongoing so let’s see where that ends. We wouldn’t be in negotiations if we didn’t want him to stay.”
The desire to keep Konaté is clear inside the club. Losing another valuable asset for free, 12 months after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure, would be damaging for business. Talks between the parties have been under way for months, yet an extension remains out of sight. The delay is not believed to reflect any change in the player’s role; Konaté already occupies a key position in the team.
Finances have been reported as a sticking point. Reliable reports in October claimed Konaté was seeking a contract that would place him alongside Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah among the club’s highest earners. While such a deal is within Liverpool’s capacity to offer, club officials must weigh whether it is sensible for a squad with an already high wage bill. On-field struggles have also left Liverpool unable to count on the additional income tied to Champions League participation next season.
In the background, suitors across Europe are thought to be making approaches. Moving on a free transfer typically allows the player to command higher wages and a sizeable signing-on fee. Clubs overseas are now permitted to hold formal talks with the 26-year-old, and his financial demands will be shaped by the offers he has received.
For a while, it seemed like Konaté was destined to join Real Madrid. Konaté was seen as a key target for Los Blancos at the start of the season, but their interest is thought to have faded after the Frenchman’s underwhelming form at the beginning of the campaign left them looking elsewhere.
Liverpool
Slot soothes concerns after Mac Allister withdrawn; Liverpool show midfield depth
Arne Slot said “I think so, yes.” after Alexis Mac Allister’s late withdrawal; Liverpool show depth.
Arne Slot moved to calm nerves after Alexis Mac Allister was withdrawn late against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday. The substitution looked worrying at the time, but Slot offered reassurance when asked about the midfielder’s condition: “I think so, yes.”
The match also marked the return of Florian Wirtz from injury, a timely addition to Liverpool’s squad, although the team did not ultimately require his influence to control the game. At the base of midfield, Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch provided solidity and composure, while Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones delivered productive displays further forward.
Teenage winger Rio Ngumoha emerged as the standout performer. He “stole the show and was unfortunate not to join his teammates on the score sheet,” drawing praise and attention for his display. That performance intensified debate around the player who has been limiting his opportunities this season, Cody Gakpo.
Gakpo started in an unfamiliar role as a central striker and struggled to look comfortable. The draft of his performance underlined a wider issue: those difficulties can also be said for many of his appearances as a left winger this season. The continued rise of attacking options complicates selection decisions for Slot.
Wirtz’s introduction from the bench adds further options to an already crowded midfield. Slot now has an abundance of confident, in-form players to call on as Liverpool prepare for a demanding trip to Türkiye to face Galatasaray in midweek. If Liverpool’s attack-minded stars continue to build form, selection pressures will increase and Slot’s choices may be tested.
For now, the immediate concern over Mac Allister appears to have been eased. The match offered evidence of the squad’s depth and posed fresh selection questions as Liverpool look ahead to their midweek fixture and the remainder of the season.
Liverpool
Liverpool Lodge $116 Million Call for OIise as Rashford Forces Barcelona’s Hand
Liverpool have made a $116 million OIise call; Rashford forces Barcelona’s hand. Transfer News Live.
Two developments dominate the transfer headlines: Liverpool have made a $116 million call for OIise, and Rashford forces Barcelona’s hand. Both items arrived as distinct but related signals about activity in the market.
Liverpool’s move is notable for its scale. A $116 million call places OIise at the centre of significant interest, and the figure alone frames the situation as one that demands attention. The report that Liverpool have taken the initiative is the sole detail provided about that approach, and it is enough to underline the seriousness of the club’s intent.
Separately, Rashford forces Barcelona’s hand. That phrase indicates action originating from Rashford that prompted a response from Barcelona. No further mechanics or timing are supplied; the fact given is that Rashford’s actions have compelled Barcelona into a decision-making posture.
Taken together, the two short reports point to a transfer environment in which high-value calls and player-driven developments coexist. Liverpool’s $116 million call for OIise reads as an aggressive valuation-led step. Rashford’s influence on Barcelona suggests a situation shaped by individual initiative rather than only by clubs negotiating in isolation.
There is no additional detail on negotiations, counteroffers, or outcomes. The information available is limited to the two core facts: Liverpool have made a $116 million call for OIise, and Rashford forces Barcelona’s hand. From those facts, the clear takeaway is that significant financial commitment and player-driven momentum are both present in current transfer reporting.
As items of transfer news and transfer rumours, these reports will be subject to follow-up. For now, the record is concise: a high-value call by Liverpool centered on OIise, and a development in which Rashford has caused Barcelona to act.
Chelsea
How the next five fixtures will shape Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea’s top-five bids
Next five fixtures for Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea and how they could affect the top-five race…
Chelsea enjoyed the perfect midweek as their bid to qualify for the Champions League was completely re-energized. A midweek of surprises has compressed the table, leaving Liverpool in sixth and Man Utd in third with just three points separating four sides.
A top-five finish will almost certainly be enough for entry into next season’s Champions League and the next five Premier League games could have a drastic impact on who claims those positions.
Man Utd face Aston Villa (A) on March 15, Bournemouth (A) on March 20, Leeds (H) on April 13, Chelsea (A) on April 18 and Brentford (H) on April 27. Man Utd have the luxury of avoiding European and cup soccer for the remainder of the term, which reduces their midweek congestion compared with Chelsea and Liverpool.
Liverpool’s next five are Tottenham (H) on March 15, Brighton (A) on March 21, Fulham (H) on April 11, Everton (A) on April 19 and Crystal Palace (H) on April 25. Liverpool had been in resurgent form—well, results-wise at least—but their Tuesday night humiliation at Wolverhampton Wanderers rocked their Champions League qualification bid. The Reds have two opportunities to make amends before the March international break. Champions League and FA Cup matches come before the clash with Tottenham on March 15, with Liverpool seeking to do the double over their relegation-threatened visitors. On their return from the Premier League hiatus, Liverpool face Fulham at Anfield. Then comes the first Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, a fixture that has yielded difficulties for Liverpool away at Everton over the past decade.
Chelsea’s schedule reads Newcastle (H) on March 14, Everton (A) on March 21, Man City (H) on April 12, Man Utd (H) on April 18 and Brighton (A) on April 26. The Blues will juggle European and cup fixtures alongside this run. The trip to Stamford Bridge from Newcastle is a tough test, and the return of league action sees Liam Rosenior’s men host title-chasing Manchester City followed by the clash with Man Utd. The clash with the Red Devils, which Chelsea lost earlier this term after yet another red card, could prove pivotal in the race for the top five.
