Real Madrid could revive interest in Liverpool defender on one condition – report | OneFootball

With three months left before the season concludes, Real Madrid have already preparing for the summer of 2026.

The club are poised for a busy summer, with the board keen on bringing in defensive reinforcements, as they look to find long-term replacements for the likes of Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba.

Real Madrid have tried their luck with multiple defensive targets in the recent past, including Ibrahima Konate, Dayot Upamecano and Marc Guehi. But none of them worked out.

Konate could become an option again

However, there is a possibility that Real Madrid may start to consider the option of signing Konate once again.

According to ESPN, the Frenchman could once again become an option for Los Blancos, but it is contingent upon the defender’s salary demands.

Real Madrid are not entirely ruling out a for Ibrahima Konate. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Earlier, talks broke down as the Frenchman’s salary demands were seen as too steep. There were also murmurs that Konate was just using Real Madrid to get a better deal out of Liverpool.

However, with the defender not having the best of seasons, his leverage has come down significantly, potentially paving the way for Real Madrid to sign him at a lower salary package.

Indeed, Konate, despite remaining a key component in Liverpool’s defence, has not been the same this season. Real Madrid, though, remain interest, provided the defender lowers his demands.

This is not an if but a must for Real Madrid, who are not willing to stoop to the defender’s previous salary demands.

In case Konate continues to demand a high salary, Real Madrid always have other options in the market, with chief scout Juni Calafat notably monitoring the progress of two Bundesliga defenders in Nico Schlotterbeck and Castello Lukeba.