Real Madrid make their MOVE for Ibrahima Konate | OneFootball

Liverpool are under THREAT from Real Madrid over Ibrahima Konate. The 26-year-old is out of contract at Anfield in 2026 and so far there has been no breakthrough in negotiations over a new deal.

Konate has emerged as the preferred partner of Virgil van Dijk over the last 12 months - and the Reds will be devastated to lose yet another key defender to Madrid.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool one month from the scheduled end date of his contract - joining Real for around £8.4m. But there will be no such fee paid for Konate next summer if he decides to run down his current deal.

It has been suggested that Liverpool would be willing to listen to offers for the former RB Leipzig stopper this summer in order to safeguard against losing him for free.

Liverpool will require a centre-back

The magic number in these reports would appear to be €55m - but Real Madrid have no intention of going so high. They low-balled the Reds for Trent back in January - and appear only willing to go to €25m for Konate.

That in turn would leave sporting director Richard Hughes some way short of funding a replacement - Ronald Araujo from Barcelona or Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace for example.

Now it’s been claimed by a report in Spain that Madrid have made up their minds on what they want to do over Konate.

Los Blancos’ new head coach Xabi Alonso has given his approval to Konate’s signing - a process the Spanish club intend to begin in JANUARY.

Alonso approves Konate deal

“There is an internal agreement at Madrid, in which Xabi Alonso has participated and given his approval, to sign Konaté starting in January,” a report in Defensa Central reads.

“Madrid hopes that the player will hold out for the next 5 months without renewing and, in this way, in the first month of 2026, carry out his signing, a tactic already used at the time with Alaba, Mbappé or more recently with Trent Alexander-Arnold.”

So Madrid’s mind is made up and the ball is very much in Konate’s court.

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Liverpool unwilling to accept Konate bid

The Reds have signed Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili this summer - with Alexander Isak potentially to come.

Hughes and head coach Arne Slot are building something very special and Konate has the unique opportunity to be a part of it. The lure of Madrid is sure to be strong but we all know what the right decision should be.

Let Liverpool know your demands and come to some kind of arrangement. But Konate is now seemingly leaning towards the Bernabeu - with Liverpool HELPLESS to prevent him running down his deal.

All they can do is play for time in this scenario - plan for the future without Konate in mind and get all they can from him between now and the end of the season.

“Liverpool already knows the Frenchman will almost certainly play for Real Madrid in 2026,” the report reads.

“However, they aren't willing to accept Madrid's demands for this transfer window.”