The future of Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate has become somewhat clearer.
The French defender's contract is set to run out in the summer, and the 26-year-old has been heavily touted for a switch to Real Madrid, potentially mirroring the path of former colleague Trent Alexander-Arnold, who completed the move last summer.
Nevertheless, according to Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein from The Athletic, Madrid is not interested in signing Konate in 2026. There's still a chance the player could leave Liverpool on a free transfer next summer if a new deal cannot be agreed, as Bayern Munich has been linked with the Premier League winner.
The Athletic has disclosed that Madrid has "directly and unequivocally" told Liverpool it is not interested in signing the player.
Konate remains a key player for Liverpool despite his poor form this season. He's made 150 appearances for the Reds, helping them win the Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield, and two Carabao Cups. The defender was also part of the Liverpool team that reached the 2022 Champions League final, losing to Madrid in Paris.
Konate's success on Merseyside has seen him become a full international, winning 26 senior caps for France. He was part of the squad that reached the World Cup final in 2022, losing to Argentina.
Konate is a key player for Arne Slot
Konate is a key player for Arne Slot (Image: Getty Images)
The Frenchman featured in the starting XI during the Reds' embarrassing loss to PSV on Wednesday, where he came under fire for his involvement in the Dutch outfit's third goal.
Speaking off-air on CBS, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher declared: "Oh my god, Konate. Oh my god, Konate.
"Watch Konate here, oh my god! I've f------ had enough of them, honest to God.
"That Konate, I mean that's a sackable offence for the manager, keeping f------ picking him. He should be sacked for that."
Konate would subsequently turn to social media to respond to the fierce criticism of Liverpool's squad. Taking to Instagram, he wrote: "We have to take this moment on the chest.
"Criticism is part of football, and we’ll fight back every time and come through this storm.
"In these moments, the fans matter most. "The ones who stand with us in the good times and the bad - the ones who sing for us even in the difficult moments!
"Your voice and your support mean everything to us. We know we need to improve, and we’ll keep fighting for you. Always."