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According to a report from [**The Athletic**](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7341538/2026/06/09/arsenal-manchester-united-transfer-latest-dealsheet-liverpool-real-madrid-analysis/), Chelsea made contact with Ibrahima Konaté over a potential free transfer after he announced he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract. The French international defender is set to leave Anfield after 5 years with the Merseyside outfit.
The London club are aiming to sign a new centre-back during the summer transfer window and contacted Konaté to see if he would be interested in remaining in the Premier League. However, **The Athletic** reports that the conversations between the two respective parties never advanced further than initial contact.
#### Konaté set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer
Following the expiry of his contract at the end of this month, the 26-year-old defender is set to leave Liverpool and join Real Madrid on a free transfer. The Frenchman will be the second player for the Reds in successive years to make the same move after Trent Alexander-Arnold also departed on a free to join Los Blancos.
[GFFN](http://getfootballnewsfrance.com) | Liam Wraith