Real Madrid line up offer for Konate’s defensive partner

Liverpool are facing a contract crisis over Ibrahima Konate.The Reds signed him from RB Leipzig for around £35m back in 2021. It took the Frenchman quite a while to establish himself – but last season he formed part of an excellent partnership with Virgil van Dijk.

That was the foundation for Liverpool’s 2024/25 Premier League title win – with Konate’s form meaning concerns were raised over the 26-year-old’s expiring contract.

With the France international out of contract in 2026, Liverpool were put under significant pressure to get a renewal sorted.

But it’s not been so easy to convince Konate to sign a renewal at Anfield. It’s been claimed that he wants around £200k to sign – but even so it’s not guaranteed he’d be tempted to extend.That’s because Real Madrid are inevitably sniffing around – hoping to tie down Konate on a Bosman transfer in summer 2026.

Liverpool are powerless to prevent Konate from talking to interested clubs from January. It remains to be seen whether he will be lured by the appeal of the Bernabeu.But there are indications that Konate may not be Madrid’s priority defender in the upcoming transfer period after all.