Van Dijk desperate for Liverpool to keep ‘outstanding’ player after talks | Football | Sport
Virgil van Dijk is keen for Liverpool to keep hold of Ibrahima Konate (Image: Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk has expressed his desire for “world-class” Ibrahima Konate to remain at Liverpool beyond his current contract. But the Reds captain acknowledges the matter ultimately rests with the club despite holding one-to-one talks with his team-mate. Konate has fewer than four months remaining on the Anfield contract he agreed when arriving from RB Leipzig in summer 2021 for £36million.
Whilst negotiations have been ongoing for a considerable period, the France international is currently set to depart on a free transfer come the summer. Konate, who has been associated with Real Madrid, delivered an outstanding display on Wednesday evening as Liverpool secured a clean sheet in their 1-0 victory over Sunderland, handing the Black Cats their first home loss since their Premier League return at the season’s outset.
Van Dijk shares a close bond with his defensive partner away from the pitch, confirming they have spoken about the contractual situation. While the skipper, who himself penned a two-year extension last April, is eager to retain his fellow centre-back at Anfield, he recognises the intricacies involved in any fresh agreement.
“He was outstanding,” Van Dijk said of Konate’s performance at the Stadium of Light. “He was incredible today. Brobbey was with him 90 per cent of the time. Brian Brobbey has made a lot of defenders’ lives this season pretty difficult but Ibou did outstanding.”
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“We are friends, we speak about everything. It’s a process and let’s see what comes out of it. It’s never that easy. We saw with my situation last year so it’s never that easy that we can just say: ‘Let’s get it done’.
“It’s a process and let’s see what comes out of it. Obviously I want him to stay. He’s an important figure on the pitch. That’s what everyone sees but off the pitch as well, he’s one of the leaders.
“He’s outstanding and in my eyes, a world-class centre back. I can do only 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. It was not my decision to leave [my contract] that late but it is what it is. There is always hope [for Konate staying].”
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have been Liverpool team-mates since the summer of 2021 (Image: Getty Images)
The victory over Regis Le Bris’ team enabled the Reds to reduce the deficit to fourth-placed Manchester United to three points following their stalemate with West Ham. Liverpool also trail Chelsea in fifth by two points after the Blues were held at Stamford Bridge by Leeds.
Van Dijk added: “Absolutely [we need perfection to qualify]. If you look at the teams around, some of them dropped points. I think we’re going to play most of them so definitely we need some perfection.
“Today was pretty close to perfection, how we defended, the intensity but also the chances we generated and maybe should have scored but it’s still game by game.
“Unfortunately, we’ve got Wata (Wataru Endo) out now – hopefully not too long but it could be. We’re very thin at the moment. We need everyone available but it’s a combination of being ready, physically and mentally.
“For example, last game losing (to Manchester City) in that manner at home and you have to be strong to come back from that. That’s why I’m proud of the guys today and the shift they put in. It’s an important three points.
“I’m confident in my team and it’s down to us to show that each and every three, four days. Now our focus turns to the FA Cup then we have a long week to prepare for (Nottingham) Forest.
“It’s a good win. Now we recover and go back home. What gives confidence is the performance – not that we won here or broke their record. It’s the performance. Defensively, we were very good. Offensively, we should have scored more but we take the three points.
“There’s plenty of improvement if you compare our games to that period in November but I feel like we’re still not where we want to be. That’s down to us but games like tonight show we’re in a good way but we have to keep going.”
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