Liverpool step up efforts to renew key defender’s contract amid Real Madrid interest | OneFootball

According to Mundo Deportivo, Liverpool are working hard to tie down Ibrahima Konate to a new deal as the French defender continues to attract strong interest from Real Madrid.

It is to be noted that Konate’s current contract runs until June 2026, which means he would be allowed to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with a new team outside of England from January, a situation that Los Blancos are closely monitoring.

The 26-year-old centre-back is considered one of the names most likely to move to Madrid next year.

Even Konate himself has acknowledged the speculation, joking in France that “Mbappe calls me every two hours” when asked about the transfer rumours.

His comment, although light-hearted, shows that he is well aware of the growing talk linking him with the Spanish giants.

Liverpool want to avoid another TAA case

Liverpool, meanwhile, are determined not to lose another key player in the same way they lost Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The full-back chose not to renew and eventually joined Real Madrid, with Los Blancos paying around €10 million so he could feature in the Club World Cup under Xabi Alonso.

Liverpool do not want to lose Ibrahima Konate. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Determined to avoid a repeat, Liverpool have accelerated the process of renewing Konate’s contract.

According to reports, the club has already opened talks with the defender’s representatives and hopes to reach an agreement quickly.

For now, though, Konate has not accepted any of Liverpool’s proposals, leaving the door open for speculation about his future.

Real Madrid are optimistic

From Madrid’s side, there is growing optimism. The club sees Konate as an ideal addition to bolster their defensive options, and with his contract slowly winding down, they believe the timing could favour them.

If no agreement is reached soon, Liverpool could face a difficult decision – either cash in on the Frenchman in January 2026 or risk losing him for free at the end of his deal.

As things stand, Liverpool are pushing hard to secure his renewal, but Real Madrid remain quietly confident that Konate could be the next big name to walk through the doors of the Santiago Bernabeu.