Real Madrid have been heavily linked with a move for a central defender next summer, and with William Saliba penning a contract renewal with Arsenal, it seems their attentions are focused on Ibrahima Konate. The Liverpool central defender is out of contract next summer, and can be signed for free in January.
Thus far Konate has rejected multiple offers from Liverpool to renew his deal, and is reportedly very keen to join Real Madrid. It has been leaked to the press in the Spanish capital that Los Blancos are increasingly confident of repeating ‘the trick’ that they pulled off with Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool in fresh talks with Ibrahima Konate
The Reds have been given fresh hope over their bid to keep Konate though. After it was reported that Konate had been offered a fresh contract in recent weeks, L’Equipe report that discussions are ongoing between Konate’s representatives and Liverpool. Their information is that Liverpool are confident of getting a deal done with Konate, albeit a number of elements of the deal are yet to be agreed.
Real Madrid yet to make Konate an offer
The French paper also maintain that Real Madrid are still yet to make an offer to Konate, despite being in regular contact with his agents. This was noted by the Madrid press back in September, and appears to still be the case.
It does seem to form part of Real Madrid’s modus operandi, tending to move a little later than other clubs in that regard. Although they were strongly interested in Alexander-Arnold for some time, they did not agree a deal until the last five months of his contract, and it was only finalised in April. With Konate, it seems they will follow a similar approach; they have also been linked with Dayot Upamecano in recent weeks.
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F47%2Fpedri.png?w=120&resize=120,86&ssl=1 "London calling: Arsenal and Chelsea set for ‘bidding war’")
