Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has joked that French forward Kylian Mbappe is trying to persuade him to move to Real Madrid next summer.
The Reds enjoyed arguably their best summer transfer window in their history, bringing in numerous top talents and selling unwanted players to balance the books.
Of all the departures, Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Madrid still sticks out like a sore thumb for many fans, and the Reds could face a similar situation again next summer.
Konate has entered the final 12 months of his contract at the club, but there has been no indication that he would be willing to sign a new one, amid reported interest from Madrid.
The Reds defender shares a joke with reporters
France's Kylian Mbappe on September 5, 2025
The 26-year-old was away on international duty with France, and among various topics that came up, reporters were keen to know the latest situation about his Liverpool contract.
When asked if Mbappe is pressuring him to make the move to the Spanish capital, Konate joked in an interview with French TV, as relayed by The Sun: "He calls me every two hours".
There's no doubt that the Reds defender commented with a strong element of tongue-in-cheek; nevertheless, it will give more food for transfer gossip over the coming months.
Madrid are known to be huge fans of Konate, and given their reputation of signing players for free (or almost), it would not come as a big surprise if he follows Alexander-Arnold's footsteps next summer.
Should Liverpool sell Konate in January?
Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool during his side's clash against Paris Saint-Germain, on March 11, 2025
The defence is one area that should really worry Arne Slot after they failed in their approach to sign Guehi in the summer.
There are signs that Konate's performances have dipped massively in the opening few games, although it would be very harsh to question his commitment to the team.
It will set a bad precedent if Liverpool lose another key player to the same club for free, and therefore, they could be tempted to cash in on him if Madrid come calling in January.
On the other hand, losing Konate could mean breaking the first-choice defensive partnership, and a new player, whoever he may be, could struggle to step up, which could hamper their season.
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