Liverpool braced for 'cheeky' £25m defender bid as Real Madrid ponder transfer decision

Real Madrid could allegedly come forward with a 'cheeky' offer of around £25m for Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate this summer.

The France international has been included in the Reds' 29-man squad for their pre-season tour of Asia, but his long-term future is the topic of increasing uncertainty after he entered the last 12 months of his contract.

Talks over an extension between Liverpool and Konate's camp are yet to bear fruit, and the former RB Leipzig man is thought to have had his head turned by Real Madrid, who have been informed that he is eyeing a move to the Spanish capital next summer.

Los Blancos were reportedly banking on signing Konate on a free transfer in 2026 when his Anfield contract expired, although Liverpool could try to recoup a small fee this summer if it becomes clear that he will not sign a new deal.

The Premier League champions are apparently after around £43.2m to let him go in the current window, but journalist Pete O'Rourke believes that Real Madrid could try their luck with a 'cheeky' £25m approach.

Liverpool braced for 'cheeky' Konate approach from Real Madrid

"Real Madrid are smart in the transfer market, they’ll try to sign these top players on free transfers," O'Rourke told Football Insider. “I don’t see a move happening this summer, it would have to be a very good offer from Real Madrid to convince Liverpool to sell him.

"They’ll probably put in a cheeky offer of around £25m, but that’s not going to be enough to get him. The player is in the box position here, he can stay at Liverpool and talk to interested clubs in January."

Liverpool could risk a near-repeat of the Trent Alexander-Arnold situation should they allow Konate to enter the last six months of his deal, but the Reds still pocketed €10m (£8.6m) through the sale of the right-back to Los Blancos earlier this summer.

Xabi Alonso's men paid a small fee for Alexander-Arnold to sign him in time for the Club World Cup, but Liverpool will not be able to repeat that trick with Konate, whom they paid Leipzig £34.6m for in 2021.

The 26-year-old has scored five goals and set up four more in 132 appearances for the Reds over the past four years, and he started 30 Premier League matches en route to the title last season.

Keep or sell: What is Liverpool's best course of action with Konate?

Having already waved goodbye to Bayer Leverkusen-bound Jarell Quansah, Liverpool boss Arne Slot surely cannot fathom losing another centre-back without bringing in a ready-made successor.

Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi is thought to be the number one choice in that regard, and like Konate, the England international can also depart the FA Cup winners for nothing in 2026 if no new contract is agreed.

The Reds are reportedly planning to approach Palace with a 'take-it-or-leave-it' offer for Guehi, who is thought to be open to the switch to Anfield, but there has not yet been a breakthrough in club-to-club talks.

If Liverpool can prise Guehi away from Selhurst Park this summer, selling Konate for £25m would not be the worst move.

If Liverpool have to wait until 2026 for Guehi, they should make Real Madrid wait until 2026 for Konate too, even if they have to watch him walk out of the door for nothing.

Written by
Ben Knapton