Liverpool will reportedly submit a contract offer to 26-year-old French international Ibrahima Konate “in coming days” amid his links with Real Madrid over a summer move.
According to a report by MARCA, as relayed by Sport Witness, Ibrahima Konate will receive a new contract offer from Liverpool “in coming days” amid his links with Real Madrid. The Merseyside club’s directors “want to avoid losing the France international for free and are exerting pressure on him” to sign an extension. Meanwhile, the Premier League champions value him at around €50 million.
Meanwhile, a report by Spanish outlet SPORT has revealed that Real Madrid will present a derisory bid worth €20-25 million to sign the Frenchman amid his reluctance to sign a new deal with Liverpool. The Merengues are working on the same formula that helped them to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold, convincing Konate to force his way out of Liverpool.
Ibrahima Konate and his situation
Ibrahima Konate has seen his stock skyrocket since joining Liverpool from RB Leipzig in July 2021. The 26-year-old has come leaps and bounds in the last four years, having been consistent with his performances despite struggling with a few fitness situations. That has helped him become a regular for his club and country.
The French international has turned out nearly 150 times thus far for Liverpool while chipping in with five goals and four assists. However, Konate’s long-term future is uncertain, as he has entered the final 12 months of his contract with the Merseyside outfit. The situation has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several European bigwigs, including Real Madrid.
Will Real Madrid sign Konate this summer?
Real Madrid’s interest in Ibrahima Konate is understandable. While the Spanish giants have bolstered their defensive unit by signing Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth this summer, David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger are on the wrong side of 30. Additionally, Eder Militao has missed most of the last two seasons due to as many season-ending knee injuries, while Alaba’s fitness situation is uncertain.
So, Real Madrid can do with another centre-back, making the Liverpool mainstay a viable target. While Los Blancos may wait until next summer to sign Konate, they have considered a derisory offer worth €20-25 million, well below his price of €50 million. However, Liverpool will aim to tie the 26-year-old Frenchman to a new contract, as the club’s directors “want to avoid losing the France international for free and are exerting pressure on him” to sign an extension.
While the Reds are working on a new deal for Konate, Real Madrid will aim to turn the French centre-back’s head by convincing him to force his way out of the Merseyside club. So, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the French international.