Kylian Mbappe has reportedly been left "surprised" by Real Madrid's decision to shelve its plan to sign Ibrahima Konate as a free agent.
It has been widely reported for several months that Madrid was considering moving to sign Konate when his Liverpool contract expires in June 2026.
However, The Athletic sprung a surprise this week as it claimed that Madrid has directly informed Liverpool that it has no interest in signing the France international.
The reason behind Madrid's decision to withdraw its apparent interest is not clear, but Konate's terrible form must surely factor into things.
The French defender had a good 2024-25 campaign, establishing himself as Virgil van Dijk's first-choice partner, but he has been among Liverpool's worst performers this term.
Spanish outlet Defensa Central reported that Konate's poor form is indeed the reason behind Madrid turning its attention elsewhere.
"They (Real Madrid) consider him (Konate) one of the best centre-backs currently available, but in recent months his performance has been below his usual standard," it said.
"Since his signing wasn’t entirely finalised, this has affected the club’s plans, ultimately leading them to rule out the possibility of acquiring him."
Madrid could instead look to sign Marc Guehi as a free agent when his Crystal Palace contract expires at the end of the campaign.
Guehi remains a top target for Liverpool, but the Reds no longer have the free run at the Palace captain that they appeared to have over the summer.
Ibrahima Konate
Konate is having a tough season (Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Palace agreed to sell Guehi to Liverpool on deadline day, only to pull the plug on the deal due to Palace manager Oliver Glasner's concerns over a lack of squad depth.
Liverpool is now likely to face plenty of competition to sign Guehi in 2026 because a transfer fee will not be required to sign him.
Spanish soccer expert Guillem Balague told the BBC that Guehi is firmly on Madrid's radar. "Real Madrid do hold an interest in Marc Guehi and he fits a clear squad need at center-back," he said.
"Dean Huijsen has emerged as a starter, but Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger have both had injury issues. Rudiger is now in his thirties, Raul Asencio has not fully convinced and David Alaba has lost pace after a long spell on the sidelines.
"Guehi, a proven Premier League defender with personality, speed and plenty of good decisions, is seen as the kind of stabilising presence who can challenge immediately for minutes.
"His case sits alongside Madrid's broader market strategy: three kinds of deals. First, the young talent who can grow into a superstar. Second, the 'free' but established player, where heavy signing-on fees replace transfer costs (the case of Guehi next summer), and third, the big-fee signing reserved for specific players viewed as instant starters."