Liverpool set asking price for Ibrahima Konate amid Real Madrid & PSG interest | OneFootball

Liverpool are expected to demand a major transfer fee for centre-back Ibrahima Konate that could prove prohibitive to rumoured suitors Real Madrid.

Madrid have suffered with a lack defensive depth this season, with Eder Militao ruled out with another ACL injury, David Alaba continuing to suffer fitness problems since returning from his own such ACL absence, and even Antonio Rudiger not completely bulletproof.

Raul Asencio has been promoted from the B team to help cover the shortfall, but there are doubts about his long-term suitability, as well as how long Alaba may last.

Madrid had wanted Leny Yoro on a free transfer this summer, but Manchester United offered Lille a sizeable fee last summer instead. RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba has been linked, as was Virgil van Dijk at the opposite end of the spectrum before his new Liverpool contract.

Konate is another linked with a Bernabeu switch, as well as Paris Saint-Germain. But MARCA writes that Liverpool won’t allow the Frenchman to go cheap, even with only one year left on his contract.

The stated asking price is €100m (£84m), which is considered too much for Madrid to pay.

Instead, the Spanish giants are hoping to continue exploiting the free agent market, as they did with Kylian Mbappe in 2024 and are about to do with Trent Alexander-Arnold now.

It would be a huge blow for Liverpool to lose another key defender on a free transfer, especially one that they invested money in to sign, as opposed to home-grown Alexander-Arnold.

It was recently revealed that Konate is asking for a significant pay rise in his negotiations over a new contract with Liverpool, who are also believed to be in the market for a new centre-back this summer. Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen is one of several players under consideration.