Liverpool facing new transfer headache as Real Madrid keen on central defender

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Liverpool IconLiverpool FC NewsLiverpool FCLiverpool is being linked with a move to sign Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund, but the Reds are set to face stiff competition for his services from Real MadridBorussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck(Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto)Liverpool could face competition to sign Nico Schlotterbeck during the summer transfer window, with Real Madrid also being tipped to swoop for the central defender.The Reds have been linked with a move for Schlotterbeck – an international teammate of Florian Wirtz – in recent months, and he will seemingly be available for a cut-price fee in the off-season.That's because his contract at Dortmund is set to expire at the end of the current campaign, and it appears unlikely at the moment that he will sign a renewal at the Westfalenstadion.Schlotterbeck, 26, has emerged as one of the best center-backs in the Bundesliga in recent years, and Dortmund is open to capitalizing on that by selling him this summer, as opposed to allowing his contract to run down and risk losing him for nothing in 2027.READ MORE: Liverpool gets Jeremy Jacquet update as worst injury fears come trueREAD MORE: Arne Slot explains how Jeremie Frimpong absence has impacted Liverpool title defenseIt is reported by Mundo Deportivo that Schlotterback is viewed by Madrid as an ideal replacement for David Alaba, who is expected to leave the Bernabeu when his contract expires at the end of the season.Dortmund is reportedly willing to accept €50 million ($58 million) for Schlotterbeck due to his contract situation — that is a lower fee than the Bundesliga outfit would ideally want to accept for Schlotterbeck, but it is still a significant amount of money for a club like Dortmund.Meanwhile, Liverpool has taken steps to address the lack of depth in the center of defense over the last couple of transfer windows, bringing in young talents Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet.However, uncertainty continues to surround the future of Ibrahima Konate, whose Liverpool contract is due to expire at the end of June.Ibrahima Konate is out of contract this summer(Image: 2026 Liverpool FC)Arne Slot confirmed earlier this month that Liverpool remains in talks with the Frenchman over a new deal."We are in talks with him, so that tells you what we want," Slot said. "It’s clear we would like him to stay, but negotiations are ongoing, so let’s see where that ends.

We wouldn’t be in negotiations if we didn’t want him to stay."Konate has also been linked with a free transfer to Madrid.It was reported earlier in the season that Konate's disappointing form at the start of the campaign had led Madrid to end its interest in the Frenchman, but it is now rumored that Madrid is still considering a move for the France international, a year on from signing Trent Alexander-Arnold in similar circumstances.Liverpool FCReal Madrid CFTransfers