Liverpool, July 24 – Liverpool are pushing hard to secure Ibrahima Konaté’s long-term future at Anfield amid concerns of growing interest from Real Madrid — but a move this summer appears increasingly unlikely.
Speculation surrounding the Frenchman intensified after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s high-profile departure to the Spanish capital earlier this summer. The England full-back exited at the end of his contract, with Madrid paying a reported €10 million (£8.5m) fee to fast-track his arrival ahead of the Club World Cup.
With Madrid boss Xabi Alonso publicly expressing admiration for Konaté and hinting at the need to reinforce his backline, fears had grown that the 26-year-old could be the next high-profile exit. However, according to multiple sources, Liverpool are determined not to lose another key defender and have already opened talks to extend Konaté’s contract.
Currently earning around £70,000 per week — the terms agreed when he joined from RB Leipzig for £36 million in 2021 — Konaté is reportedly seeking a significant increase. The France international is understood to be targeting a salary north of £150,000 per week, in line with his status as one of the Premier League’s top-performing centre-backs and to match the earnings of several of his teammates.
Despite the financial gap, both the player and the club are believed to be aligned in principle. Konaté is happy on Merseyside and, for now, does not appear to be pushing for a move. Two well-connected journalists have reported that the chances of a transfer to Real Madrid materialising this summer are “absolutely unlikely”.
Liverpool, under new sporting leadership following the post-Klopp reshuffle, are expected to make Konaté’s renewal a top priority in the coming weeks.
With Alexander-Arnold already gone, the Reds know they can ill afford to lose another key pillar of their defence — especially to the same European rival.