Liverpool are anticipated to demand a serious switch payment for centre-back Ibrahima Konate that would show prohibitive to rumoured suitors Actual Madrid.
Madrid have suffered with a scarcity defensive depth this season, with Eder Militao dominated out with one other ACL harm, David Alaba persevering with to undergo health issues since coming back from his personal such ACL absence, and even Antonio Rudiger not fully bulletproof.
Raul Asencio has been promoted from the B workforce to assist cowl the shortfall, however there are doubts about his long-term suitability, in addition to how lengthy Alaba might final.
Madrid had needed Leny Yoro on a free switch this summer time, however Manchester United provided Lille a sizeable payment final summer time as a substitute. RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba has been linked, as was Virgil van Dijk on the reverse finish of the spectrum earlier than his new Liverpool contract.
Konate is one other linked with a Bernabeu change, in addition to Paris Saint-Germain. However MARCA writes that Liverpool gained’t enable the Frenchman to go low-cost, even with just one 12 months left on his contract.
The said asking worth is €100m (£84m), which is taken into account an excessive amount of for Madrid to pay.
As a substitute, the Spanish giants are hoping to proceed exploiting the free agent market, as they did with Kylian Mbappe in 2024 and are about to do with Trent Alexander-Arnold now.
It will be an enormous blow for Liverpool to lose one other key defender on a free switch, particularly one which they invested cash in to signal, versus home-grown Alexander-Arnold.
It was just lately revealed that Konate is asking for a big pay rise in his negotiations over a brand new contract with Liverpool, who’re additionally believed to be out there for a brand new centre-back this summer time. Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen is one among a number of gamers into account.
