Image Credits: Imago Images
By the end of 2025, the Ibrahima Konate-to-Real Madrid saga looked all but dead. Reports in Spain and England suggested that Madrid, having tracked the Liverpool centre-back for months as a potential free transfer in 2026, had ultimately informed the Reds they would not be pursuing a deal.
Their stance was said to be “direct and unequivocal,” with sources like The Athletic and others relaying that Konate’s dip in form, coupled with his sizeable contract expectations, had pushed him off the Bernabéu shortlist and strengthened Liverpool’s hand in renewal talks instead.
Yet, as so often happens in the modern transfer market, that appeared to be far from the final word. Fresh claims tied to ESPN’s Madrid correspondent Rodra indicated that Real’s recruitment team had effectively reopened the Konate file, sounding out the player’s camp again to see whether there was any flexibility in his demands.
Last week, Arne Slot provided a positive update on the situation in a recent interview with Sky Sports:
“We are still in talks with Ibou. You never know, as we always say, contract talks are held in different rooms than these and when there’s news, we share it with the world in the rooms where you are!”
“But as long as that’s not the situation these conversations stay private.”
“These players [Konate and Andy Robertson] have done a lot for the club and will do a lot for the club in the upcoming half year and who knows longer than that, but these are talks that are taking place elsewhere.”
Now, the Athletic’s Mario Cortegana has once again come out to deny that Konate is in talks with Real Madrid, reporting:
“Multiple players have been offered to Madrid by various agents this month, and each one has been turned away. It seems Madrid are not involved in pre-contract talks with any potential summer arrivals. Back in November, The Athletic reported that they told Liverpool they were not in the race for Ibrahima Konate, and since then they did not even consider matching the demands of Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano.”
Contract negotiations between Liverpool and Konate’s representatives have dragged on for over a year, with little tangible progress to show for it. But there is time for the Frenchman to commit to Anfield, and hopefully that happens very soon.
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.