Real Madrid is clear that they still have to sign at least one central defender, and that was emphasized during the 4-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final of the Club World Cup on Wednesday. And they have a clear target in mind to add to the team of Xabi Alonso: Ibrahima Konate.
There have been question marks about the levels of Antonio Rudiger and Raul Asencio after the PSG defeat, while there are also doubts about Eder Militao and David Alaba who can achieve their best after injury problems.
Dean Huijsen is the only undisputed starter that Real Madrid has in the central defense, and Konate could be the second if he makes the switch from the Liverpool. And the opportunities that that happens now look more and more likely.
After reports that Konate has given the green light to Real Madrid to take a step for him, Diario, as now, is to say that the French International is currently not going to sign a new contract with Liverpool.
And the Premier League champions are aware of this, which is why they open this summer to sell it, so that there is no repetition of the Saga of Trent Alexander-Arnold. According to the report, they want at least € 50 million to leave him, but Real Madrid is only willing to pay around half.
Real Madrid has shown in the past that they will only commit to buy players when the conditions are the most favorable. That is why they decided in January against a movement for Trent, and also why they decided last summer against a move for Alphonso Davies – although he eventually signed a new deal with Bayern Munich.
Liverpool will hope that the situation of Konate will ultimately follow that of Davies, but for now it seems that Real Madrid could get their husband – albeit in 2026.