Real Madrid ‘joined by’ two major rivals in race for

Ibrahima Konate’s future could be decided during this summer transfer window, with the Liverpool centre-back potentially on the move. Although Real Madrid were initially seen as frontrunners for his signature, two other European giants have now entered the race.

Konate has just one year remaining on his contract at Anfield, and with the Trent Alexander-Arnold situation in mind, the Reds are looking to handle players approaching the end of their deals differently. The Premier League club have reportedly set an asking price of €50m (£42.5m) for the France international.

So far, Real Madrid are said to have offered only €25m (£21.3m), hoping to bring the fee down for the 26-year-old. The Spanish giants were previously alone in their pursuit, but according to Caught Offside, both Bayern Munich and Barcelona are now showing interest in signing the former RB Leipzig defender.

Real Madrid face competition from Barcelona and Bayern

The arrival of two additional contenders is unlikely to benefit Real Madrid, but it could strengthen Liverpool’s position in securing a deal closer to their valuation. The Merseyside club still hope to agree a contract extension with Konate, though the player is understood to have already rejected one offer.

There is still plenty of time left in the window, and Real Madrid could wait until the latter stages to make a formal bid. That strategy may have paid off had they remained unchallenged, but with Bayern and Barcelona now involved, Los Blancos may be forced to act more swiftly to meet Liverpool’s demands.

This article was originally published on Top Mercato.

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