[Liverpool](https://walkon.com/) were one of the most active teams in the summer transfer window this year, landing gem attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, two new fullbacks, and two new strikers in Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
But the presence of the big star they lost does loom large. Even though Trent Alexander-Arnold hasn’t done much of anything since signing with Real Madrid as a free agent – and isn’t even a starter when Dani Carvajal is healthy – he was such a key player for Liverpool that the right back position has been a big weakness without him.
Trent escaped Liverpool for a new challenge at Real Madrid, and while he may regret that decision, it seems like another star defender for the Reds, Ibrahima Konate, is increasingly likely to follow in Trent’s footsteps.
Madrid-based outlet Diario AS reports that Liverpool already see keeping Konate as a lost cause, as their internal belief is that the French center back will be joining Real Madrid in the summer 2026 transfer window, taking the Trent strategy of a sneaky exit to the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Madrid outlets are also saying that Real Madrid think Marc Guehi is as good as gone to Liverpool, so they may be increasingly driving harder after Konate, who is a lot easier to sign than Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano in free agency.
Joe Soriano is the editor of _The Trivela Effect_ and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like _The Real Champs_ (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage _NFL Spin Zone_ and _Daily DDT,_ covering the NFL and pro wrestling.