Real Madrid ready bold move for departing Liverpool hero | OneFootball

Real Madrid are preparing a bold move for a departing Liverpool star. The Reds may be saying goodbye here.

Liverpool are still deep in talks with Ibrahima Konate as they seek a new contract for the Frenchman. Konate’s deal is currently set to expire at the end of the season.

Richard Hughes and company have been in those talks for 18 months now but getting Konate to commit on their terms is proving difficult. It may actually prove impossible.

So as things stand, Konate will leave Liverpool at the end of the season. It increasingly appears that it would take a massive turnaround to change that as the two parties simply cannot agree.

And that appears to have brought Real Madrid firmly into the fold. They were heavily linked with a move for Konate last year but that appeared to come to and end with their decision to abandon a pursuit.

However, things have changed since then. Dayot Upamecano, Mar Guehi and Nico Schlotterbeck now all look to be off the table - and it leaves them back wanting Konate.

That’s according to Sport Bild, who report that Real Madrid will in fact make a move for Liverpool’s defender. With the Reds having been in talks for so long - and for Los Blancos to be quite so blatant about using Konate as a second choice (or even last resort) - it’s a bold move.

Ibrahima Konate: Situation Summary

As of 26 March 2026, Ibrahima Konate is at a major crossroads with his Liverpool career. His current contract is set to expire this June, and despite over a year of negotiations, no extension has been signed. Reports suggest he has turned down an offer to stay until 2030, fuelling intense speculation regarding a free transfer to Real Madrid this summer.

Fitness and Availability

Arne Slot recently confirmed that Konate is "completely fit" following a brief period of hamstring discomfort that saw him start on the bench against Tottenham. He played a role in the recent 4-0 Champions League win over Galatasaray and is expected to be a key figure for the remainder of Liverpool's campaign as they push for a top-five finish.

International Duty

Konate is currently with the France national team for friendlies against Brazil and Colombia. He is expected to start in tonight's high-profile match against Brazil. This season, he has been a pillar of the Liverpool defence when healthy, contributing to nine clean sheets across 29 Premier League appearances.