Real Madrid were ready to sign Liverpool defender in the summer – but here’s what happened | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s defensive rebuild under Xabi Alonso has been one of the most discussed storylines of the summer.

Dean Huijsen has already cemented himself as a first-team regular, but the big question mark remains over who will partner him consistently.

With Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, and Eder Militao all struggling with fitness issues, the club looked hard at the market for solutions.

One name that consistently came up was Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate. The Frenchman has been on Madrid’s radar for months, and there was even an opening this summer when contract renewal talks between Konate and Liverpool began to stall.

Liverpool blocked any move

According to Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid were prepared to move for Konate in the final phase of the transfer window if the conditions were right.

Ibrahima Konate remains a top target for Real Madrid. (Photo by Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images)

However, Liverpool made it clear that they were unwilling to entertain negotiations. The Anfield club consider him an essential part of their backline and were not ready to risk losing him while uncertainties still surround other defenders in their squad.

This resistance effectively killed any chance of a summer switch, leaving Madrid to wait. Internally, the Spanish giants have decided not to overspend on a player they believe can be secured for free next summer, once his contract runs down.

The interest, though, hasn’t gone away. Konate remains a priority target for Alonso, who sees him as the ideal long-term partner for Huijsen.

Whether Madrid act in January with a cut-price offer or wait until June to sign him without a fee will largely depend on how their current defensive group holds up through the season.

Liverpool, for their part, are keen on keeping hold of Konate but they won’t beg for him to stay at Anfield.