(Credit Hasan Karin, Breaking Media/Imago)

Jonathan Burnett

Wed 20 August 2025 20:20, UK

Real Madrid have caused Liverpool plenty of frustration this summer with the signings of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen.

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Alexander-Arnold‘s long-awaited move from Anfield to the Santiago Bernabeu was finally confirmed on 30 May, after Real Madrid paid an £8.4million fee to buy the right-back out of his contract at Liverpool.

Liverpool earning a ‘pure profit’ of £8.4m for the final month of Alexander-Arnold’s deal is an example of Arne Slot‘s shrewd transfer business this summer, but the Reds haven’t landed all of their top targets.

Real Madrid beat the Reds to Huijsen‘s signature on 17 May after they triggered the centre-back’s £50m release clause at Bournemouth, and already have their eyes on another key player currently at Anfield.

Real Madrid want Ibrahima Konate to join Trent Alexander-Arnold (Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

Football Insider revealed on 20 July that Madrid could submit a £25m bid for Ibrahima Konate as his own contract runs down at Liverpool, who are keen to avoid a repeat of the Alexander-Arnold scenario.

Should a bid for Konate prove successful this summer or next, he could join former Liverpool target Huijsen and his former team-mate Alexander-Arnold in the backline of ex-Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Alonso’s side got off to a winning start in LaLiga after Kylian Mbappe‘s penalty proved enough to beat Osasuna, and Alexander-Arnold posted on Instagram to celebrate a debut clean sheet on Tuesday.

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Huijsen partnered Alexander-Arnold at the back and commented two ‘hearts’ and a ‘fire’ emoji beneath the 26-year-old’s post, which said: “Amazing feeling playing at my new house.

Great way to start the season with a win.”

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Football Insider Verdict

Real Madrid’s prolonged pursuit of Alexander-Arnold may have finally succeeded this summer, but Liverpool will be keen to avoid similar events playing out as Konate approaches the end of his deal.

Football Insider revealed on 17 August that Liverpool could look to sell Konate in January in a bid to recoup the £36million they paid to RB Leipzig in 2021, leaving Madrid with a transfer decision to make.

The Reds have lined up Marc Guehi as Konate’s successor alongside Virgil van Dijk, but they look set to take a leaf out of Madrid’s book with less than 12 months left on the Crystal Palace captain’s contract.

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