Defender is not agitating for an exit but has told Liverpool he is not ruling it out
Ibrahima Konate has informed Liverpool that he is open to leaving Anfield this summer, with Real Madrid identified as his preferred destination.
The French centre-back has just one year left on his current deal and has stalled on signing a contract extension. He is reportedly not motivated by financial considerations.
Konate’s stance is a cause for concern within Liverpool’s hierarchy, who are wary of a repeat of the Trent Alexander-Arnold situation, where the club risked losing a key player on a free transfer to Real Madrid.
Although he is not agitating for an exit, Konate has made it clear to Liverpool that he is not ruling it out, particularly if a move to the Santiago Bernabeu becomes a real possibility. Liverpool are now considering cashing in, with the belief growing internally that an extension is unlikely.
There has been no formal bid from Madrid but the Spanish giants are monitoring the situation, as reported by Marca. Both David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger are entering the twilight of their careers and struggling for fitness, so the club will need a rebuild in defence. They have already secured 20-year-old Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth this summer and are close to signing 22-year-old left-back Alvaro Carreras from Benfica; but they are still interested in further reinforcements.
Madrid are reportedly willing to wait until 2025, when Konate would be available on a free. However, that plan could be accelerated if a current first-team defender leaves this summer. Liverpool are thought to value Konate at around €50m, while Madrid would be reluctant to go beyond €25m.
Liverpool’s defensive depth could become an issue if Konate departs, given that Jarell Quansah has already left for Leverkusen. The club have been linked with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi but there have been no solid developments on that front.
