Real Madrid fit soon drop one ‘sharp guy’ £25m offer for Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté this summer, even as him future for Anfield still dey hang for balance.
Di French defender dey among di 29-man squad wey Liverpool carry go Asia for pre-season, but e don enter di final 12 months of him contract — and dat one don make tori full ground say e fit waka soon.
Talks to extend him deal never click, and reports dey yan say Real Madrid don already enter him head, especially as di player dey eye move go Spain by next summer.
Madrid Plan Free Move, but Liverpool Fit Collect Small Change Now
Di plan wey Madrid bin get na to sign Konaté as free agent by 2026 when him contract expire. But if Liverpool confirm say e no go sign new deal, dem fit try collect small money now instead of losing am for free.
Di Reds dey eye about £43.2m to release am now, but journalist Pete O’Rourke believe say Madrid go try their luck with one ‘cheeky’ £25m offer.
“Dem Go Try Luck” – O’Rourke Talk
“Real Madrid sabi run transfer matter well. Dem go always aim to sign top players for free,” O’Rourke tell Football Insider.
“I no see am happen this summer unless Madrid drop serious offer. Dem fit try one £25m move just to test Liverpool, but e no go reach at all. Konaté still hold strong hand for here — he fit just wait till January and begin talk to other clubs.”
Di Trent Lesson Still Fresh
If Liverpool allow Konaté enter di final six months of him contract, dem fit repeat di Trent Alexander-Arnold story, wey dem still sell to Madrid for small fee — €10m (£8.6m) — earlier this summer.
But Liverpool no go fit pull same stunt again with Konaté, wey dem buy for £34.6m from RB Leipzig in 2021. Di 26-year-old don score five goals and assist four more in 132 games for Liverpool, and last season e start 30 Premier League matches on di way to dem league title.
Wetin Liverpool Suppose Do Now?
Since dem don already sell Jarell Quansah go Bayer Leverkusen, new coach Arne Slot no go wan lose another centre-back unless dem first get solid replacement.
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi na di main target, and just like Konaté, him contract go expire for 2026 if dem no extend am. Liverpool plan to drop one ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ bid, and Guehi dey open to move.
But no serious agreement dey yet between Liverpool and Palace. So if dem fit carry Guehi this summer, to sell Konaté for £25m no go too bad.
But if Palace no release Guehi now, Liverpool fit hold Konaté tight till 2026 too — even if e mean say e go waka free. Na fair game.