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By Barnaby Lane
Posted on 16 June 2025, 16:12
Real Madrid preparing to snap up "tremendous" Liverpool defender following Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer - Liverpool
Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.(REUTERS/Hannah Mckay)
After winning their second Premier League title under new manager Arne Slot, Liverpool are wasting no time in reinforcing their squad for a potential third.
The Reds have already completed the high-profile signing of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen. The Dutch full-back is widely considered one of the best right-backs in world football. Liverpool are also closing in on a deal for Bournemouth’s rising left-back Milos Kerkez.
Frimpong’s former teammate at Leverkusen, Florian Wirtz, is also on the verge of joining Liverpool, having reportedly agreed personal terms ahead of a £115 million move. The German playmaker is expected to undergo a medical in the near future.
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Further big names linked to Anfield include Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and PSG’s Bradley Barcola, a key figure in the French club’s historic 2024/25 Champions League win.
However, it’s not all about arrivals. Liverpool have already seen a major departure, with Trent Alexander-Arnold controversially joining Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Real Madrid Eyeing Another Liverpool Defender
ibrahima-konate-liverpool-premier-league
Ibrahima Konate. (REUTERS/Molly Darlington)
And Real Madrid may not be done raiding Anfield just yet. According to Marca, the Spanish giants are now targeting Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konaté, who is out of contract in summer 2026. The report claims Konaté has rejected a contract extension offered by Liverpool.
Madrid are said to be monitoring his situation closely, alongside other end-of-contract targets such as Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly and Valencia centre-back Cristhian Mosquera.
Konaté, who joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021, has made 132 appearances for the club across all competitions. He has lifted the Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield, and two Carabao Cups during his time on Merseyside.
The 26-year-old has earned praise for his dominant physical presence and composure under pressure. Former Premier League defender Micah Richards lauded Konaté’s development, saying: “His positioning has got a lot better, you see the size of him, the frame of him. In the air he’s really good.”
“I watched him a lot at Leipzig – there’s so much potential,” he said of the 26-year-old. “There’s all these things he’s tremendous at – last ditch tackles he can do that, he can get back in, pace – no problem at all. To go to the next level now if he can just concentrate a little bit more and be a bit more assured on the ball.”
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