Shocking Update Suggests Konaté May Reverse Decision Amid Liverpool and Real Madrid Talks
According to a recent source, Ibrahima Konate is actively negotiating a new contract with Liverpool, and the Reds are now “confident” that an agreement can be reached.
Wanderlustsport examines the two potent negotiating tools the player has at his disposal that will enrage Real Madrid, his main pursuers.
The 26-year-old defender, who arrived from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2021 in a £36 million (€40 million, $46 million) transfer, is currently in the fifth and last year of his contract.
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During his tenure at Liverpool, Konate has become one of the more reliable and stable figures in world football. He played a significant role in the team’s championship victory last season under Arne Slot.
When the club and Konate originally started negotiating a new contract to prolong the player’s tenure at Anfield last fall, it was thought that an agreement was imminent.
An extension has not yet been agreed upon, however, and in recent weeks, there has been increased conjecture that Konate will become the most recent Reds star to leave as a free agent to join Real Madrid.
According to credible rumors in Spain this week, the transfer to the Bernabeu was even deemed a “done deal,” with an announcement about his future scheduled for early January.
But according to the French publication L’Equipe, which has vehemently denied those rumors, Konate is genuinely eager to remain at Anfield, and recent talks with the Merseyside powerhouses have given Liverpool “confidence” that a new contract at Anfield may soon be reached.
Although they admit that there are still “a number of points” that need to be resolved before a complete deal can be reached, they claim that the 25-time France defender is “very happy” at Anfield.
The source report that before a complete agreement on a stay with Liverpool can be reached, Konate still needs to address a few difficulties.
According to reports earlier this month, Konate, who currently makes an estimated £70,000 per week, is looking for a deal that would reflect his status with Liverpool and keep him at Anfield, closer to £200,000 per week.
The 26-year-old undoubtedly has a compelling argument when considering his circumstances. With the exception of being rested during Liverpool’s victory over Southampton in the Carabao Cup, he has appeared in nine of the team’s ten games this season.
Along with Virgil van Dijk, Konate was the preferred regular in defense. He played in 31 of the 38 Premier League games played last season, 30 of which were starts, and accrued about 2567 minutes. That’s the most he’s ever managed in his three seasons on Merseyside.
With 510 of 540 Premier League minutes already played this season, the Reds’ No. 5 is well above of players like Joe Gomez and the unfortunate Giovanni Leoni in the hierarchy and only injuries will keep him from starting. His significance for Liverpool and Arne Slot is evident to everyone.
His regular status is not his sole negotiating tool, though, as the Reds are acutely aware that he may sign a pre-contract agreement with them starting on January 1 and go for Real Madrid as a free agent next summer.
He has an advantage in talks with the Reds just based on that circumstance. Speaking last week, Fabrizio Romano asserted that Liverpool was in a “tough spot” when it came to trying to sign Konate to a new contract.
“In October/November 2024, a new contract at Liverpool was very close. Then, the conversation changed, and it is still challenging today,” Romano said.
Although Liverpool made fresh attempts in August to extend Konate’s contract, it now appears to be a challenging task. It appears to be difficult.
In light of the fact that Real Madrid enjoys free transfers, values Konate as a player, and enjoys a positive working relationship with his agency, we must retain Konate on their shortlist.
Therefore, Konate is undoubtedly still a possibility for Real Madrid. Nothing will occur until January since Real Madrid will never engage in unlawful negotiations or reach an agreement with the player prior to that month.
“Real Madrid is a possibility if he doesn’t extend the contract because Konate will be free to speak with any club.”
Despite connections to players like Mickey van den Ven, our transfer insider Dean Jones thinks Konate is Real Madrid’s most likely center-back target in 2026.
Jones said: “They obviously have their sights set on other players as well, but I was told Konate was the one they have thought of as most likely.”
I’ve heard that this could be a situation to watch this season, so it’s fascinating that they are now also being associated with Micky van de Ven.
“I don’t think there is any communication involved at this point or anything like that, but Madrid wants to attract attention, so it’s possible that Van de Ven would consider moving to Madrid if he wants to boost his profile from Spurs.
We’ll have to wait and see if they decide to pursue him more actively, but I believe they have been interested in him for a long. Marc Guehi is one player who might take Konate’s place in the Reds’ defense.
A move to bring Guehi to Anfield makes a lot of sense because the England defender is thought to be a more skilled player when it comes to getting the ball out of defense, something Konate has struggled with in the early going this season.
A somewhat surprising Premier League competitor has now indicated that Liverpool would face fierce competition to sign him; nevertheless, we have been able to refute that by outlining why Liverpool is still the player’s primary choice.
