Asked about Konate’s contract situation, Van Dijk said: “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 own situation last year so it’s never that easy that we can just say “let’s get it done”.

Konate, 26, joined Liverpool in 2021 and the France international has made 165 appearances for the club since his move from RB Salzburg for £35m.

Liverpool will have Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet – both are currently injured – available in the summer as centre-back options but it remains to be seen if the club can agree on a new deal with Konate.

“Obviously I want him (Konate) to stay,” said Van Dijk. “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.”

The Liverpool captain was speaking after he scored the only goal as Arne Slot’s side became the first team to beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League this season.

Liverpool also became just the second team to keep a clean sheet at Sunderland this season and Van Dijk hailed Konate’s display.

“He (Konate) was outstanding,” Van Dijk added.

“He was incredible today. (Brian) Brobbey was with him 90% of the time. Brian Brobbey has made a lot of defender’s lives this season pretty difficult but Ibou did outstanding.”

Earlier in the week, Slot claimed Liverpool will need to be “close to perfection” to qualify for the Champions League next season and Van Dijk agreed with that assessment.

The Reds’ captain added: “If you look at the teams around us, some of them dropped points. I think we’re going to play most of them, so definitely we need some perfection. This game (against Sunderland) was pretty close to perfection, how we defended, the intensity, but also the chances we generated. Maybe we should have scored more but it’s still taking it game by game.

“Unfortunately, we’ve got Wata (Endo) out now (the Japan international was stretchered off). Hopefully it’s 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 in that manner at home (to Man City), you have to be strong to come back from that. That’s why I’m proud of the guys and the shift they put in. It’s an important three points.”

A number of squads have suffered with illnesses during the tournament and France have been one of the worst hit.

Adrien Rabiot was out of the squad entirely for the semi-final win over Morocco on Wednesday whilst Bayern Munich duo Dayot Upamecano and Kingsley Coman were unused substitutes after also suffering.

Now French outlet L’Equipe reports that Varane and Konate have both come down with illness as well.

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The report says that the symptoms are mild for Varane and more intense for Konate. Rabiot and Upamecano returned to training on Thursday.

All eyes will now be on the group training session at 5pm UK time and which players are able to make it and which are missing.

It does raise a real concern around what happens in the centre of the defence. With Upamecano, Varane and Konate’s training time potentially limited it might leave manager Didier Deschamps in a difficult place.

A statement later on Friday ahead of training from the FFF confirmed that Varane, Coman and Konate would not train with the group and would instead do work in the gym.

“Raphaël Varane, Kingsley Coman and Ibrahima Konaté are spared and will not take part in the collective session today on the field but will have an session in the gym.”