Liverpool reportedly makes a huge decision on Ibrahima Konate’s future after Real Madrid’s interest surfaced.
The French defender has been a core part of the Reds’ backline alongside Virgil van Dijk. His defensive duties played a key role in last season’s Premier League title win.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are very active in the transfer market, having already signed three major players – Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Milos Kerkez. This might be the reason they haven’t prioritised extending Konate’s contract yet, which is set to expire in 2026.
The 26-year-old defender is reportedly unhappy with Liverpool’s approach and his current wages, as he only earns £70k per week. He has rejected two contract offers from the club and may be considering a move to Real Madrid when his deal ends.
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Liverpool set their stance on Ibrahima Konate
Liverpool are aware that Real Madrid are already working on a plan to sign Konate for free in 2026. According to Diario AS, the Merseyside club offered him to Real Madrid for around €50m, but the Spanish giants rejected it and are not willing to pay more than €25m this summer.
Real Madrid may not rush to bring him now, knowing they can get him in 2026 just like they did with Trent Alexander-Arnold. However, after their 4-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final, Xabi Alonso might have identified issues in the backline.
Diario AS also reports that the Premier League champions have made it clear they won’t accept less than €50m for the defender. Liverpool also wants to convince Konate to renew his contract before it expires.
The Reds might be trying to avoid another Trent-like situation and are preparing for that. Reports say the club already have a few names in mind as potential replacements for Konate this summer.
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