. Liverpool star turns down €60m transfer as report reveals Arne Slot’s next move
Liverpool’s transfer window is heading into its final stretch and the Reds are still very much in the thick of things. With Monday’s 7pm deadline closing in, the club could yet see as many as half a dozen moves completed in both directions. Fans are bracing themselves for a frantic finish.
One deal close to being wrapped up is Kostas Tsimikas’ loan move to Roma. The Greek left-back hasn’t been able to dislodge Andy Robertson and will spend the season in Italy, hoping for more minutes. It’s a move that suits all parties, though it does leave Liverpool lighter in that area.
There is also uncertainty surrounding Harvey Elliott. RB Leipzig see him as the ideal replacement for Xavi Simons, who departed for Tottenham earlier in the summer. While nothing is advanced, Liverpool know the German club’s interest is very real.
AC Milan, meanwhile, have firmed up their pursuit of Joe Gomez. The versatile defender has admirers in Serie A and Liverpool are not completely against selling him, especially if Marc Guehi arrives from Crystal Palace. Guehi is seen as a long-term addition who could slide into Arne Slot’s plans straight away.
Konate turns down Saudi move
Perhaps the biggest twist involves Ibrahima Konate. Reports in Spain suggested Liverpool recently had the option of cashing in on the Frenchman, with an unnamed Saudi club tabling a €60m bid. That figure was high enough to make the Reds pause and think.
In the end, though, the decision never even made it to the boardroom. Konate himself rejected the move outright, refusing to leave Anfield for the Middle East. That put a full stop on the deal before it could go anywhere.
For Liverpool fans, that rejection will come as a relief. Konate may have had injuries at times, but when fit he has shown he can be Virgil van Dijk’s most reliable partner. Selling him now, with the season underway, would have created more problems than it solved.
Contract situation remains key
Still, the situation is not completely settled. Konate is in the final year of his deal, and Real Madrid are watching closely with a view to next summer. Reporter Ben Jacobs has already confirmed Liverpool are working on a new contract for him, and that remains the club’s top priority.
If no breakthrough is found, the door to a January sale will be left slightly open. Liverpool would not want to lose him for free in 2026, so a mid-season decision might be forced upon them. But even that would only happen if a replacement was lined up immediately.
At centre-back, Slot currently has Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez and young Giovanni Leoni to call on. If Guehi arrives and Gomez departs, the numbers will stay the same at four, which is what Liverpool consider manageable. That means Konate leaving in January feels unlikely unless something dramatic changes.
Fans can see why the club value him so highly. When he’s on his game, Konate brings power, pace and aggression to the back line. Losing him without a clear plan would weaken Liverpool’s defence at a time when depth is already a concern.
The Saudi offer showed there’s strong demand for him, and Madrid’s interest won’t go away. But for now, Liverpool supporters can breathe easy knowing Konate is focused on Anfield and not heading out the door just yet.
The final hours of the window will still be busy, with ins and outs expected, but one thing seems certain: Konate won’t be part of the departures list this summer.