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Real Madrid is confident it will secure the signing of Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer at the end of the season.
That's according to reports in Spain, as history threatens to repeat itself on Merseyside. Just months ago, Trent Alexander-Arnold forced a move from Liverpool to Madrid by running down his contract. Although the Reds eventually got a transfer fee for Alexander-Arnold in the region of $10 million, they still lost their vice captain and would've received a much greater transfer fee if he had more time remaining on his contract.
Like Alexander-Arnold was this time last year, Konate is in the final year of his Liverpool contract and is being consistently linked with a move to Spain.
Konate, 26, joined Liverpool in 2021 and quickly established himself as a crucial partner for Virgil van Dijk, helping the Reds clinch the Premier League title last season.
Marca reports that Los Blancos view the coming months as pivotal in determining Konate's future and are keeping in touch with his representatives.
The Spanish publication suggests that Konate has already rejected three extension offers from Liverpool, and there is growing confidence that he will follow Alexander-Arnold's path rather than Alphonso Davies', who chose to extend his stay with Bayern Munich after discussions with Madrid.
It's also reported that Konate's departure from Anfield is seen as a "sure thing," although recent reports suggest that Liverpool has been in dialogue with his agents in an attempt to reach an agreement.
As for Konate himself, he seems unfazed about his future and has even quipped that he regularly receives calls from France team-mate Kylian Mbappe encouraging him to make the move to the Spanish capital.
Asked during a rapid-fire question and answer session on French television channel TF1 whether Mbappe was applying pressure for him to make the move to the Bernabeu, Konate quipped: "He calls me every two hours! No, no, no."
Konate is presently on international duty alongside Mbappe and featured for the full 90 minutes in France's victory over Ukraine on Friday. Les Blues are next set to face Iceland on Wednesday.
Liverpool has already moved to strengthen its defensive ranks amid the uncertainty surrounding the center-back's future. The Reds secured promising talent Giovanni Leoni from Parma following Jarell Quansah's departure to Bayer Leverkusen earlier in the summer.
Arne Slot would have been keen to add another defensive option in Marc Guehi as well, after a fee was agreed before the deal collapsed despite the Crystal Palace star completing his medical.
Similar to Konate, Guehi will be available on a free transfer next summer, and Liverpool presently has little appetite for pursuing the England international during the January window.
Konate's contractual situation mirrors last season's developments, where the Reds witnessed drawn-out sagas concerning the futures of Mohamed Salah, Van Dijk, and Alexander-Arnold, with only the first two committing their long-term futures to Anfield.
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