Ibrahima Konate has reportedly made it clear that he would want to join Real Madrid if he were to leave Liverpool this summer.
The French center-back is coming off the best season of his career, in which he made a major contribution to the Reds winning the Premier League. However, his future at the club is far from certain as he has fewer than 12 months remaining on his current contract at Anfield.
Konate is currently understood to earn around $100,000 a week, but it has been reported that he wants around $270,000 per week in order to sign a contract extension with the Reds.
Sky Sport says that there has been no progress in talks over an extension, and that Konate is eyeing a possible move to Madrid.
Madrid does not currently having a pressing need to sign a new center-back, having recently signed Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, so Konate would reportedly be willing to wait until next year when he would be able to move to the Bernabeu on a free transfer.
Konate is also said to be attracting interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League, but he has no intention of departing elite European soccer any time soon.
Konate may yet end up signing an extension at Liverpool, but all the signs suggest that he has settled on Madrid as his preferred destination should he end up leaving.
The 26-year-old was due back at Liverpool training on Tuesday, as Arne Slot and his players returned to the AXA Training Center for the first time since May.
Liverpool's players were originally due to return on Monday, but they were given an extra day off following the tragic passing of teammate Diogo Jota last Thursday.
Tributes have been paid for Diogo Jota following his death at the age of 28
Tributes have been paid for Diogo Jota following his death at the age of 28 (Image: Getty Images)
Jota died alongside his brother, Andre Silva, in a car crash in Spain as the pair made their way back to Liverpool by road ahead of the start of pre-season training; the Liverpool forward opted against flying on medical advice after undergoing lung surgery earlier in the summer.
Konate was among the Liverpool players who were in attendance at Jota's funeral in Gondomar, on the outskirts of Porto, on Saturday.
Paying tribute to his late teammate on Instagram, Konate wrote: "Diogo... I still can’t believe it. I’m devastated. I have no words to express my feelings. Beyond the extraordinary footballer you were, there was an exceptional man, a friend, and brother! May you and Andre rest in peace.
"I am truly devastated by this news. This club, this family that we shared together, will never forget you! I think back to all the moments we shared and I still can’t believe it, they all seemed perfect... You can be sure of one thing: your family won’t walk alone. We’ll be there to help them through this devastating moment.
"I would like to address the world: today it’s Diogo and his brother. Yesterday it was someone else. Tomorrow it could be us. Let’s enjoy every moment that life offers us, with our families, friends, even strangers. Let’s try to live in peace and send each other love. We don’t know what tomorrow brings. I LOVE YOU, MY BROTHER."