In another dramatic development in the Ibrahima Konaté saga, Liverpool have reportedly made it clear that they are unwilling to sell the superstar defender this summer, despite strong interest from Real Madrid and the player entering the final year of his contract.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Premier League champions are not open to selling Konaté under any circumstances at present. The club is said to be unwilling to part with the centre-back even if an interested party, such as Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain, were to meet their expected asking price of €50 million.
This is a high-risk strategy from Liverpool. Konaté’s current contract expires at the end of the upcoming season (June 2026), meaning he could leave as a free agent next summer. The French international has already rejected an initial contract renewal offer from the club due to an unsatisfactory salary proposal.
The club is desperate to avoid a repeat of the Trent Alexander-Arnold situation, which saw the right-back run down his contract before joining Real Madrid. However, by refusing to sell now, Liverpool are risking that exact outcome once again.
Real Madrid’s interest in the defender has intensified following a poor defensive season. They see Konaté as a key target and are well aware of his delicate contract situation.
Liverpool are now playing a dangerous game of contractual chicken. They are betting that one more season with Konaté is more valuable than a transfer fee, or that they can still convince him to sign a new deal. The standoff continues, with the risk of losing another superstar to Real Madrid for free looming large over Anfield.