Premier League defender keen on playing for Real Madrid but is only available from January | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s topsy-turvy campaign at the FIFA Club World Cup laid bare the defensive inadequacies of the club.

Coach Xabi Alonso, despite bringing in Dean Huijsen in the summer, was not happy with the performances from the defensive line in the semi-final defeat to PSG.

Alonso was particularly concerned about the performances of Raul Asencio and is, therefore, keen on bringing in a new defender, with Ibrahima Konate emerging as the prime option.

Real Madrid have tried to sign Konate this summer, but reaching an agreement with the Reds has proven to the difficult.

Konate wants to play for Real Madrid

However, a recent report from Defensa Central suggests that the French defender is keen on a move to the Spanish capital and has already given his ‘OK’ to a transfer, though it may have to wait until January.

Ibrahima Konate could be a top defensive target for Real Madrid next year. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)

The same report claims that Madrid had also monitored Arsenal’s William Saliba, but the Frenchman is set to commit his long-term future at Arsenal and has no desire to join Real Madrid, at least for now.

Konate, meanwhile, becomes a free agent in 2026 and is reportedly open to either arriving as early as January or waiting for his contract to run down.

Los Blancos see this as a potential market opportunity, much like last summer’s strategy with Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Florentino Perez, along with Jose Angel Sanchez and Juni Calafat, continues to push behind the scenes for the Liverpool defender.

The Frenchman is excited by the idea of playing at the Santiago Bernabeu, which refutes earlier reports that suggested that the defender is happy at Anfield and wants to stay at the club amid links to Real Madrid.