Ibrahima Konate should stay at Liverpool even if he has interest from Real Madrid, former Reds man Markus Babbel believes. The French center-back is now inside the final 12 months of his current contract.
"He should stay," Babbel told Gameshub. "Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world, but I’m not sure you can enjoy playing there because of the pressure and expectation on your shoulders.
"Liverpool is a huge football club and are one big family; everyone looks after each other. You can still earn the best money playing for Liverpool and you’re playing in the best league in the world.
"As far as competing to be the best, Liverpool play a great style of football as well. I saw a similar style to Liverpool while watching Paris Saint-Germain against Madrid in the Club World Cup semi-final; PSG dominated the game!
"If you join Real, you might be going to the best club in the world, but they are definitely not the best team, and I can’t see them becoming the best team in the next couple of years."
Konate could yet sign a new deal at Anfield but there has been no sign of an extension being imminent just yet.
Ibrahima Konate has just one year left on his contract at Liverpool
Ibrahima Konate has just one year left on his contract at Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)
The 26-year-old confirmed back in January that he had been offered a new deal by Liverpool. However, when he was then asked if he was close to signing it, he responded: "That’s another conversation!"
"Who talked about that a few months ago?" Konate said. "The club didn’t say anything, I didn’t say anything. It’s one person that said that. I didn’t know, after I spoke with the club but I think I am really focused on what happens now. We will see what will happen."
At the end of last season, Konate provided a further update to reporters after winning the Premier League title.
"You know, I just want to say one thing: everything you saw on social media is completely fake," Konate said. "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."
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Liverpool.com says: Having already sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen this summer, Liverpool already needs another center-back this summer. Tying Konate down would therefore be a huge boost.
Losing him to either Real Madrid or someone else would leave a big hole at the back for Arne Slot. Marc Guehi has been put forward as one option to bring in, but the defender market is not flooded with quality at the moment.
Dean Huijsen would have been ideal but he chose Real Madrid. Aside from him, there are not many proven center-backs who have been on the move so far this summer.