“Kylian Mbappe is calling me…”: Liverpool star reacts to potential Real Madrid interest
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Real Madrid is actively pursuing Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté amid stalled contract talks with Liverpool. Konaté has rejected Liverpool’s recent contract renewal offer, primarily due to its performance-based bonuses structure and a wage demand reportedly around £200,000 per week, which Liverpool finds excessive. As a result, Liverpool faces the risk of losing him for free when his contract expires in 2026, prompting them to set a transfer price in the range of £35-60 million to sell him in the summer transfer window rather than let him leave on a free transfer[1][2].
Real Madrid’s strategy involves either signing Konaté on a free transfer next summer when his Liverpool contract ends or potentially pushing for an earlier transfer in January. However, Madrid’s offer is reportedly far below Liverpool’s valuation, with willingness to spend around €15 million in January, which Liverpool may find insufficient for a top defender[1][4][5].
Konaté’s move to Real Madrid is also influenced by personal factors; he is said to be close friends with Kylian Mbappé, who has been encouraging him to join Madrid. This connection adds pressure on Konaté regarding his future decision[3]. Meanwhile, Real Madrid has been restructuring their defense under coach Xabi Alonso, who has already brought in defenders like Trent Alexander-Arnold and is seeking a long-term partner for promising youngster Dean Huijsen[1][4].
Other clubs such as Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with Konaté, but Real Madrid remains the frontrunner given their tactical needs and player connections. Liverpool’s refusal to meet Konaté’s high wage demands and the presence of young replacements like Giovanni Leoni further motivate the club to entertain transfer offers rather than risk losing him for free[2].
In summary, Real Madrid aims to acquire Ibrahima Konaté either as a free agent next summer or for a reduced fee in the winter window, while Liverpool is prepared to sell him this summer for a fee to avoid a free departure. Wage demands and transfer fee disagreements have stalled progress, making the situation one of the key defensive transfer sagas for both clubs in 2025[1][2][4][5].
PP