Real Madrid 'goes toe-to-toe' with Liverpool star again

Real Madrid are turning their eyes to England, where French centre-back Ibrahima Konate is entering the final year of his contract with Liverpool.

Real want Konate.

According to Fichajes , the Spanish Royal team initially contacted Konate to prepare for a free transfer in the summer of 2026. Instead of paying a high transfer fee, Real Madrid is applying a familiar strategy that has been used with David Alaba, Kylian Mbappe or most recently Trent Alexander-Arnold: approaching early and convincing the player not to renew with the parent club.

Real's board sent a clear message to Konate, asking him not to renew with Liverpool, in exchange for a preliminary contract waiting for him in January 2026. The early approach gives "Los Blancos" time to prepare tactically and financially, while avoiding competition from other big clubs.

Konate is said to be unhappy with Liverpool's proposed extension terms and his suspension of negotiations has further worried the Merseyside club.

Xabi Alonso is said to have agreed to the plan to recruit Konate. The young Spanish coach highly values the defensive qualities, aerial ability and speed of this 25-year-old central defender. At Real Madrid, Konaté is expected to become a pillar alongside names like Eder Militao or Antonio Rudiger in the long run.

Source: https://znews.vn/real-madrid-lai-di-dem-voi-sao-liverpool-post1573249.html