Liverpool want “no less than” €50m (£43m) for Real Madrid target Ibrahima Konate, according to reports in Spain.
The France international has less than a year left on his contract at Anfield and a renewal is looking increasingly unlikely.
Konate is said to be interested in making the switch to the Bernabeu but any move this summer doesn’t appear to be on the cards.
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Madrid-based publication AS claims that Real would only be willing to pay around €20m (£17m) to €25m (£21.5m) for the defender, significantly below the Reds’ asking price.
Konate could follow Trent next year
At the moment, all the signs point towards a repeat of what happened with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who ran down his contract to join Real.
A fee was paid, as the La Liga club wanted the fullback to be in their squad for the Club World Cup, but Konate’s move could well be a free transfer.
Unless there is a major breakthrough in contract negotiations, it seems the 26-year-old’s future lies away from Anfield.
Liverpool are in the market for a centre-half
Arne Slot’s side are hoping to reinforce the middle of defence before the end of the transfer window. However, it is believed the departure of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen triggered the search rather than doubts over Konate’s future.
Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is said to be the top target but it has been claimed that Eagles chairman Steve Parish wants as much as £50m for the defender, despite the fact that the England international also has less than a year left on his contract at Selhurst Park.
Alternative options could be explored. The Reds have been linked with Parma’s Giovanni Leoni, FC Nantes’ Nathan Zeze, Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez and Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera.
In other news, Liverpool could soon “up the ante” in the race to sign a £86m rated striker