Ibrahima Konate moves CLOSER to Liverpool contract deal | OneFootball

Real Madrid's Konate interest cools

Complicating the picture for a long time has been the interest of Real Madrid. The Spanish capital club are known to be in the process of renewing their central defensive sector - with David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger both tipped to leave.

Initially it was believed that Konate was Los Blancos’ first choice to marshal a new-look backline but the trail appears to have gone cold in the last few weeks.

First Madrid made it known that they were not willing to pursue a deal for the France international and now comes another report suggesting that a new name is in the frame to arrive.

Jacobo Ramon ahead of Konate for Madrid

Jacobo Ramon, 20, left Madrid last summer in a deal to join Cesc Fabregas at Como in Serie A. Since then the centre-back has transformed into one of the best young defenders in the Italian top flight - leading to speculation that Madrid could bring him home.

The deal included a buy-back clause with Defensa Central now claiming that Xabi Alonso’s side intend to utilise that clause.

“Jacobo Ramón's outstanding season, coupled with the fact that none of the remaining free agents have fully convinced the club, makes the academy graduate the favorite to return to Real Madrid should the club ultimately decide to sign a new center-back,” the report reads.

We can take this as an incredible Konate boost - with Liverpool now having the opportunity to conduct a new contract without the distraction of Real Madrid in the background.

The Anfield club will still need to pay attention to interest from Bayern Munich and Inter but there is certainly more hope now that Konate’s first-choice destination has been ruled out.