On May 21st, L’Equipe reported Liverpool are confident of extending Ibrahima Konaté’s contract beyond 2026. They also said Reds sporting director Richard Hughes was working on his renewal.
The France international hasn’t signed an extension yet and recent claims from elsewhere have stated he wants to join Real Madrid.
Wednesday’s edition of Marca, after relaying this, provides their own take on the La Liga club’s interest in the Liverpool player.
They are looking at some players with contract expiring in 2026, including the centre-back.
He’s already rejected two renewal offers proposed by the Premier League winners. The 26-year-old needs to decide whether to commit his future to Arne Slot’s side or ‘take on the challenge Real Madrid is throwing at him from a distance’.
Marca now report that everything indicates the former RB Leipzig man will leave and the Merseyside club would also be willing to sell, to avoid losing him for free.
Real Madrid have already signed Dean Hujisen this summer and if they were to sign a new centre-back, the report states it could benefit Xabi Alonso.
Konaté is a popular target for Real Madrid, who have already made moves to try and sign him. Marca adds the work carried out by them ‘could bear fruit’, either in this window or next summer.
With Liverpool willing to sell, there could be movements in the coming weeks.