Liverpool starter now likely to join Real Madrid | OneFootball

Liverpool are facing a centre-back reshuffle at the end of the current season.

For the 2026/27 campaign we will see both Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni integrated into the first-team squad. And other promising young signings - such as Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe - could also be given a chance.

The Premier League champions are likely to see both Joe Gomez and club captain Virgil van Dijk LEAVE at the end of next season with their contracts expiring in 2027.

It means a revamp is necessary as Richard Hughes and Arne Slot plan for the seasons ahead.

And don’t forget Ibrahima Konate - who looks like he will be leaving Anfield at the end of the current season. Konate, 26, signed for the Reds back in 2021 for £35m from RB Leipzig - winning the title in tandem with Van Dijk last term.

But a long contract standoff - stretching back over 18 months - means the France international is close to leaving.

Konate set to leave

The player’s entourage were reported to be holding out for a pay deal worth £200k per week and right now there are no indications that Richard Hughes is prepared to go that high.

Accordingly Konate is free to speak to other interested clubs about a lucrative free transfer.

Paris Saint-Germain have an interest in bringing Konate back to his hometown but more likely is a move to Real Madrid. Despite distancing themselves from a deal for Konate earlier this season it now looks like their interest has strongly re-emerged.

Madrid’s dreams of signing Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund look like they are going to be frustrated. And according to Defensa Central that opens the door for Konate to move to the Bernabeu.

Konate now a 'strong contender' for Real Madrid

“The Frenchman, who belongs to Liverpool, has become a strong contender to wear the Real Madrid jersey,” a report reads.

“However, barring any surprises, he will not sign a new contract and will leave Anfield. He will likely arrive in the Spanish capital as a free agent.”

Free of course is a relative term as this deal is going to cost Madrid a fortune. The 15-time European champions will pay a welcome bonus of around £13m to Konate while his weekly wage will sky-rocket from his current reported total of £140k per week.

The player hasn’t been at his consistent best all season but has shown more promising signs in the last few weeks.

It would be a huge shame to lose such an experienced, champion defender for nothing - especially only one year after selling Trent Alexander-Arnold to Madrid for a reduced £10m fee.

Now Richard Hughes is going to have to decide which senior defender is going to come in to replace him.