Fabrizio Romano provides Ibrahima Konate contract update

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.

Image Credits: Imago Images

Ibrahima Konate’s future at Anfield remains in serious doubt, with his situation drawing uncomfortable parallels to the Trent Alexander-Arnold departure that saw the England international leave for Real Madrid last summer.

The French defender finds himself in an identical predicament to his former teammate, entering the final year of his contract with Real Madrid circling like vultures.

With his current deal set to expire in June 2026, Konate could sign a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs from January 1st – just 98 days away.

Reds sporting director Richard Hughes initiated preliminary talks with Konate’s representatives almost a year ago, yet finalizing an agreement has proven elusive.

Real Madrid’s interest in Konate “is an open secret”, according to Spanish newspaper Marca, with the defender having reportedly rejected three separate contract extension offers from Liverpool.

Madrid view Konate as an ideal long-term replacement for veterans David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger and have earmarked him as one of their first targets for 2026 – though they “don’t want to upset Liverpool”.

Should Konate remain steadfast, he could sign a free transfer pre-contract next January, leaving Liverpool with the unenviable choice of cashing in next winter or losing him for nothing in the summer.

And it looks like that could be a distinct possibility.

Fabrizio Romano has compared his situation to compatriot William Saliba, and explained that with Saliba there is an “active conversation” unlike with Konate:

“Ibrahima Konate, in this case, compared to Saliba, for example.

I think for Saliba and Arsenal, there is an active conversation to try to extend the contract,” Romano said on the Here We Go podcast

For Konate and Liverpool, at the moment looks difficult.

There is still no agreement, still nothing really close.

“Liverpool Konate is at a different stage at the moment.

This is why Real Madrid are also monitoring the situation of Konate.

There could be an opportunity on a free transfer because Saliba is not out of contract in 2026 but in 2027.

“Konate is out of contract in 2026.

So there might be an opportunity, and Real Madrid are attentive?