Real Madrid have responded to the price Liverpool have set for Ibrahima Konate amid the Frenchman’s frustrating contract saga.
Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Los Blancos this summer and has already played in the FIFA Club World Cup for them but Madrid want both Konate and Alexis Mac Allister too.
Of course, Liverpool and Arne Slot are in no mood to entertain the thought of losing another star to Madrid much less rip apart the spine of the team that won the Premier League in May.
Konate played 31 games on the way to league glory with the Reds but with one year remaining on his terms, Liverpool are in a tough situation. At least with Luis Diaz, the Colombian has two years to go until expiry but with Konate, a decision must be made soon.
Liverpool learn miserly fee Real Madrid are willing to pay to sign Konate this summer
In June, Konate was asked to comment on his contract situation and he responded in length, saying: “You know, I just want to say one thing: everything you saw on social media is completely fake.
“I didn’t even ask for something from the club. They made me an offer, and I replied to them with something, that is it.”
Konate reportedly earns in the region of £70,000 per week – terms he signed in 2021 when he first joined the club from RB Leipzig. The Reds paid £36m to sign him but he was just an extremely promising prospect back then.
Now, Konate is one of the very best centre-backs in the world and there’s an argument to be made he could break into the top three with an injury free campaign this year. With a year left on his deal, Liverpool are prepared to let him leave for £43m but Madrid are not having it.
According to Spanish publication Defensa Central, Real Madrid are unwilling to accept that price tag and will only pay €20-25million (£17.barely double the £8.4m Liverpool received for Alexander-Arnold.
Hopefully, if that proves to be the way things pan out, Liverpool can use the next 12 months to tie him down to a fresh contract. Alternatively, they will at least be able to look for a replacement instead of needing to do that this summer.