Ibrahima Konate speaks about Real Madrid transfer links amid Liverpool contract standoff

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Ibrahima Konate has addressed rumors linking him with a transfer to Real Madrid, having joked that Kylian Mbappe is trying to lure him to Spain.

The defender’s future has become a cause for concern for Liverpool, with Konate having entered the final year of his contract at Anfield.

A new deal has been touted for some time, although talks look to have stalled as links with Real have grown.

Reports in Spain have suggested in recent months that Konate will look to follow former teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold in making the move to the Bernabeu at the end of his contract, with doubts growing over whether a new deal will be forthcoming.

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There have been conflicting reports on whether the 26-year-old is prioritizing a new contract at Anfield or a move to Madrid, but Liverpool’s pursuit of Marc Guehi may point to the Reds planning for Konate’s departure.

The defender is currently away on international duty with France, having helped his country to a 2-0 win over Ukraine on Friday, and he has found himself being directly questioned about his links with Real.

During an interview with French TV channel Telefoot, host Severine Parlakou asked Konate: "The Spanish press is sending you to Real Madrid next season

Ibrahima Konate's contract at Liverpool expires next summer

Konate jokingly replied: "He calls me every two hours!" - while also denying that he has already started to learn Spanish.

Arne Slot will be hoping Konate’s response is nothing more than a joke, with Liverpool’s attempts to tie the defender down to a new deal having proved fruitless so far.

As things stand, he would be able to discuss a pre-contract agreement with any foreign clubs from the start of January, meaning the Reds could face a race against time to try and get a new contract signed.

Rather worryingly, during the conversation with Telefoot, Konate was asked whether he had lied at any point during the interview, to which he replied: “Yes,” although he was adamant he didn’t lie about learning Spanish.

It’s not the first time Konate has been questioned about his future, and he didn’t do too much to ease the concerns of Liverpool fans when he was asked about interest from Real and Paris Saint-Germain earlier this year.

"Hearing big clubs like that being interested is very flattering, but now I'm focusing on this season,” Konate said back in February.

“I want to win everything - take as many titles as possible and then everything that happens in relation to my contractual situation