Arsenal and Chelsea have reportedly joined Real Madrid in the race to sign 26-year-old French international Ibrahima Konate in a Bosman move if he leaves Liverpool next year.
According to a report by Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in Ibrahima Konate. The Liverpool defensive mainstay has entered the final 12 months of his deal with the Merseyside club, alerting several European bigwigs. The French international is also a target for Real Madrid, and a Bosman move may be on the cards if the Reds fail to secure an agreement with him over a new contract.
Ibrahima Konate and his situation
Ibrahima Konate has established himself as one of the best defenders in the world since joining Liverpool from RB Leipzig in a deal worth £35 million in July 2021. The 26-year-old has made significant progress in the last four years, forging a formidable central defensive partnership with Virgil van Dijk. That has helped the Frenchman become a regular for his national side.
The French international has made nearly 150 appearances thus far for Liverpool while chipping in with five goals and four assists. However, Konate’s long-term future is uncertain, as he has entered the final 12 months of his contract with the Merseyside outfit. The situation has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several European bigwigs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, and Real Madrid.
A man in demand
It is surprising that Konate is a target for Arsenal. The Gunners have heavily reinforced their central defensive unit under the tutelage of Mikel Arteta, and they signed Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie in the summer transfer window. So, it is unclear how the Liverpool mainstay fits into the scheme of things at Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s interest in Ibrahima Konate makes sense. The Spanish giants bolstered their defensive unit by signing Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth in the summer transfer window. However, David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger are on the wrong side of 30, and Eder Militao’s long-term fitness situation is uncertain after missing most of the last two seasons due to as many season-ending knee injuries.
As for Chelsea, the West London club can do with a new centre-back despite hoarding several defenders in the last few years. While Trevoh Chalobah has been excellent since returning from a loan spell with Crystal Palace, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi face an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge. So, the Liverpool defender is a viable target for Chelsea.
However, the Reds are working on a new deal for Konate, hoping to keep the 26-year-old French international at Anfield for the long haul. It will be interesting to see if Liverpool can compel Konate to remain at the Merseyside club, or if Arsenal, Chelsea, and Real Madrid turn his head.