Liverpool are close to securing long-term contracts for defenders Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah, with negotiations well underway for both players.
Quansah is closest to finalising terms, as the club is in advanced talks to reflect his rise to the senior squad over the past year.
The 21-year-old centre-back is expected to receive a substantial pay increase, given his current deal was signed while he was still a youth player.
Meanwhile, preliminary discussions have started with Konate.
The 25-year-old has re-established himself as a key figure alongside Virgil van Dijk, forming Liverpool’s first-choice centre-back pairing.
His new deal would secure his prime years at Anfield, continuing his impressive form this season.
Liverpool’s defensive solidity has been crucial to their strong start under new manager Arne Slot.
The team has conceded just two Premier League goals in their opening seven matches and only four across 10 games in all competitions.
Quansah’s new deal could be finalised during the upcoming international break, recognizing his growing importance within the squad.
The academy graduate made his Liverpool debut last season, capping it with a Carabao Cup victory and being hailed as one of England’s brightest young defensive talents.
He was even included in Gareth Southgate’s preliminary squad ahead of Euro 2024.
Although Quansah started the season under Slot, he has since slipped behind Ibrahima Konate in the pecking order.
However, the new contract underscores how highly he is valued by the club.
Liverpool resisted multiple approaches for him during the summer transfer window, most notably from Newcastle United, who sought to include him in a potential player-plus-cash deal for Anthony Gordon.
The club’s refusal to entertain such offers highlights their belief in Quansah as a long-term solution at centre-back.
Negotiations with Konate’s representatives will continue in the coming weeks.
His return to form, reminiscent of the level he showcased at the beginning of his Liverpool career, has been pivotal for the team this season.
Signed from RB Leipzig in 2021 for £36 million, Konate quickly surpassed Joel Matip to become Van Dijk’s preferred partner in central defence.
Despite a challenging 2022-23 campaign due to injuries and a dip in form, Konate has bounced back strongly, with he and Van Dijk statistically standing out as one of the Premier League’s top defensive partnerships this season.
While securing Quansah and Konate’s futures is a positive step, attention will now shift to Liverpool’s ongoing negotiations with Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Both players, like Mohamed Salah, are out of contract at the end of the season, and discussions to reach an agreement have proven difficult since Slot and new sporting director Richard Hughes took charge.
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