Liverpool Face Alarming Konate Crisis as Real Madrid Circle Their Star Defender

Ibrahima Konaté and Liverpool are reportedly still far from reaching terms on a new contract renewal.

Liverpool find themselves once again competing with Real Madrid for one of their key players. The Reds saw Trent Alexander-Arnold depart for the Spanish club last summer, and now face the prospect of a similar scenario with Konaté.

Negotiations for a fresh deal with the French defender, who has just 12 months remaining on his current agreement, have failed to gain meaningful momentum. Latest reports suggest Konaté turned down a third offer regarding enhanced personal terms earlier this month, adding fuel to speculation about a potential switch to Madrid.

The Reds continue their efforts to secure Konaté's future, but Fabrizio Romano disclosed there remains "nothing really close" to a fresh agreement between Liverpool and the defender. In reality, an extension "looks difficult" at this stage.

Real Madrid 'Monitoring' Konate's Situation With Liverpool

While Liverpool and Konaté remain deadlocked, the opportunity exists for Real Madrid. According to Romano, Los Blancos are "monitoring" developments on Merseyside, with plans to potentially acquire the French international as a free transfer this summer.

Though it remains "early to make decisions," Real Madrid's pursuit could gain momentum in the upcoming months following reports that William Saliba has signed a new five-year deal with Arsenal. The 24-year-old was another priority for the Spanish powerhouse, but his future now seems secured in north London.

With Saliba no longer available, Real Madrid can concentrate entirely on Konaté. The 26-year-old would represent a defensive enhancement over David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger, who are both believed to be in their final campaign wearing the white jersey.

However, ample time remains for Liverpool and Konaté to reach an agreement before his contract concludes at the end of the 2025–26 campaign should both sides desire to continue their partnership.