Liverpool will not sell Real Madrid defensive target for anything less than €50 million | OneFootball

The general sentiment coming from Real Madrid at this point is that the squad for the 2025/26 season is closed. But there is a feeling that there may still be room for one more.

After all, Los Blancos did leave a first-team spot vacant by registering their latest signing, Franco Mastantuono, with the reserve team.

Real Madrid remain on the lookout for a centre-back and possibly a central midfielder as well – not actively but on standby for any interesting market opportunities that might come up in the final stretch of the transfer window.

One of the names that has been gaining traction in recent days, in relation to Real Madrid, is Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate.

A last-minute move on the cards?

According to AS, Liverpool’s latest signing of Giovanni Leoni is seen as a move to anticipate Ibrahima Konate’s departure, either now or when his contract ends in 2026.

Leoni has joined the Reds from Parma for €31 million, while they also have Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace in their sights. It could lead to the Premier League champions to offloading Konate, with Real Madrid sniffing around.

Ibrahima Konate could leave Liverpool. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The 26-year-old Frenchman is out of contract in June 2026, and remains firmly on Real Madrid’s radar. Liverpool fear of history repeating itself as with Trent Alexander-Arnold, and they do not rule out the Merengues making an offer before the window closes.

No move for less than €50 million

However, as per the Spanish outlet, Liverpool will not let Konate go for anything less than €50 million this summer, despite the risk of losing him for free a year later.

This comes after reports from England suggested on Sunday that the Reds could sell him for a fee of €40.5 million.

But, Real Madrid will not lose their head over a player who will be available on a free in a year. A fee between €20 million and €25 million could be seen as feasible and financially sustainable by Los Blancos, but they will not meet Liverpool’s €50 million valuation.

Having already splashed more than €170 million in the market this summer, Real Madrid are prepared to play the waiting game with Konate.

With two weeks left before the transfer window closes, it will be interesting to see who between Real Madrid and Liverpool is the first one to blink.