To put it simply, Liverpool had a very poor season in 2025/26. They finished fifth in the Premier League, having been the reigning champions, and failed to make it beyond the quarter-finals in any of the cup competitions.

As a result, head coach Arne Slot was sacked in May, and the club are looking to push forward and appoint Andoni Iraola as his replacement. However, there was one huge mitigating factor to consider when discarding the club’s disappointing campaign.

That was, of course, the tragic death of Diogo Jota. The Liverpool star was killed in a car crash along with his brother Andre Silva on 3 July 2025. It sent shockwaves through the football community, and one of his teammates has now opened up on the impact it had on him.

Ibrahima Konate: ‘Diogo Jota’s Death Devastated Me’

Ibrahima Konate was a key player for the Reds in 2025/26, playing 51 games in total, only missing two Premier League games. However, his form was shaky at times, and he certainly wasn’t as consistent as he had been in the club’s title-winning campaign a year before.

It’s no surprise that his best football was not forthcoming after Jota’s death completely disrupted his summer, which should have been spent recuperating. He wasn’t the only Liverpool star to struggle either, and the Frenchman opened up on how hard it was to focus on sport after the tragic loss of his teammate. Speaking on France Inter radio station, via Daily Mail, Konate said:

Konate went on to discuss how hard it was to focus his mind on football, but felt that he owed it to Jota and his family, as well as the club’s fanbase. He added: “You go back to football because you have no choice.

“We’re employees at a club that pays us every month, so we have duties. I think every fan was affected by this too, and I think all that we can do to help them is by winning games. We had no choice but to go back on the field and play for him and his family – as well as ourselves. There’s no way of getting over it, but you learn to live with it.”

Konate Also Lost His Father During the Season

Making the season even more difficult on a personal level, the 27-year-old revealed that his father, Hamady Konate, had been struggling with his health at a similar time and then passed away in January. The French defender recalled:

“I’ve never spoken about it before, but it’s true that at the start of the season, my father was in hospital for several weeks. And actually, in my situation, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know whether I should go home and stop playing, because the team needed me too.

“I didn’t know who to talk to about it, so I kept it all to myself. And this is the advice I’d give to everyone listening: when you’re feeling down or something’s going on, you need to talk to those around you. It can help you and do you good. I didn’t talk about it and kept it to myself.

He stayed available for the club for essentially the whole playing 36 times in the Premier League, only missing one game against Bournemouth on special leave for his father. Konate spoke about the toll it has taken on him, noting: TThere was never a moment when I felt like I was on the mend. All of these tragic events happened so quickly and, as soon as I felt like I was getting my head above water, something else happened. But then I had the support of all these fans, who are exceptional at Liverpool.

“My teammates and especially my family, but I also had to learn how to get back on my feet on my own because the team needed me more than ever. And I told myself that it happens to everyone every day, and I know that my father would have wanted me to get back.”

Konate – who is now leaving Liverpool following the expiry of his contract, and looks set to join Real Madrid on a free – also spoke about how players should not be ‘ashamed’ to suffer from depression in football. He concluded: “Depression is personal; it’s deep inside you. When you’re depressed, it starts in the heart, goes up to the brain and takes over your whole body. For me, that’s what’s hard, and we need to talk about it.”

Manchester United are working on signing new midfielders ahead of the summer transfer window.

Reliable reporter, David Ornstein, recently confirmed that United had agreed a deal to sign Atalanta star Ederson for a fee in the region of £39 million.

The Red Devils are in the market for multiple new additions in the middle of the park after it was confirmed that Casemiro would be leaving the club.

United need to strengthen their options in the summer transfer window as they prepare for a season in the Champions League.

Ederson doesn’t appear to be the only midfielder that United are looking to bring to the club, and we could see multiple new additions for Michael Carrick and his team.

Man Utd Expected to Sign Another Midfielder

BBC reporter Simon Stone has provided an update on Manchester United’s pursuit of West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes ahead of the summer transfer window.

The reliable journalist claims that he would be surprised if United didn’t secure his signature this summer, even though they are in a bit of a stand-off with the Hammers.

West Ham’s relegation to the Championship will certainly help convince Fernandes to make a move in the summer, but it appears West Ham aren’t willing to budge on their valuation.

Man Utd Could Have Plenty of Midfield Options

Heading into the 2026/27 season, Manchester United could have plenty of options in the middle of the park.

If Ederson and Fernandes, described as ‘elite’, both arrive at Old Trafford, that is two high-level midfielders adding to their squad.

Although Casemiro is leaving, United still have Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo as options, while Manuel Ugarte remains at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils undoubtedly need multiple midfielders due to Casemiro’s departure, while Ugarte’s future is still uncertain heading into the summer transfer window.

It’s an exciting period approaching for United, with Champions League football on the horizon and a busy summer expected.

Manchester United continue to search for fresh additions as Michael Carrick prepares for his first full season in charge at Old Trafford.

The former Middlesbrough manager was handed a two-year deal to become United’s permanent head coach after guiding the club to third in the Premier League.

A deal is all but done for Atalanta midfielder Ederson to join the Red Devils and more additions are highly likely as United plan to add depth as they prepare to return to the Champions League.

Carrick is expected to add another midfielder to his ranks but United are also interested in making additions to their defence, according to reports in Italy.

Man Utd eye Juventus star Pierre Kalulu

United are interested in Juventus star Pierre Kalulu, according to Corriere Dello Sport.

The Red Devils watched the player ‘several times’ in the final weeks of the Serie A season. He is expected to command a fee of around £35million with Tottenham Hotspur also credited with an interest in the Frenchman.

He joined Juve on loan from AC Milan in 2024 before his switch to Turin was made permanent last summer. He has been described as the club’s best signing of the last two years, given the permanent deal for him was only around £13million.

Kalulu played in all but one of Juve’s games last season, with a one-game ban for a red card the only thing stopping him from playing almost every minute.

He came through the academy at Lyon in France before moving to AC Milan in 2020. He has been capped three times by the French national team but has not been included in their 26-man squad for the World Cup later this month.

Juventus want to give Pierre Kalulu new contract

Juventus are keen to keep hold of Kalulu, despite the interest from United.

However, the Turin club have failed to qualify for the Champions League and their hand could be forced if a strong enough offer is tabled.

Juventus have other players they would prefer to sell, and if other exits occur then United could be frustrated in their attempts to bring Kalulu to Old Trafford.

He is under contract with the Old Lady until 2029 but Juventus are keen to extend his deal at the club. They want to add another year to his contract and insert the option of an additional 12 months.

However, a new deal is described as being a ‘long way off’.

United have Luke Shaw as their first-choice left-back. The former Southampton player has struggled with injury for much of his Red Devils career.

However, he put those issues behind him last season and started in all 38 of the club’s Premier League games – becoming just the fifth player to achieve the feat for United.

With the Red Devils back in the Champions League, they will need more depth at left-back.