Real Madrid's price for Ibrahima Konate emerges as Liverpool defender wanted

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Liverpool IconLiverpool FC NewsFeaturesIbrahima KonatéIbrahima Konate is reportedly on Real Madrid's radar ahead of becoming a free agent at the end of the season, and he could be in line for a bumper signing-on feeLiverpool defender Ibrahima Konate(Image: 2026 Simon Stacpoole/Offside)Real Madrid is reportedly prepared to pay Ibrahima Konate a signing-on bonus of $17 million if he moves to the Bernabeu on a free transfer in the summer.Konate's contract at Liverpool is due to expire at the end of June, and talks over an extension – which have been taking place for some time – are yet to result in a positive resolution.Madrid signed Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool a few weeks before his Reds contract was due to expire last summer, and the Bernabeu club is reportedly considering a similar move for another Liverpool star 12 months on. Spanish outlet Defensa Central says that Madrid is likely to try to tempt Konate to move to Spain by offering him an eight-figure signing on fee.READ MORE: Liverpool set to get last laugh over transfer target Man Utd is 'serious' aboutREAD MORE: Galatasaray boss criticizes his players for focusing too much on Liverpool tieLiverpool head coach Arne Slot confirmed earlier this month that the club remains in talks with Konate over a new deal, although there has been no suggestion that a breakthrough in talks is imminent."We are in talks with him, so that tells you what we want," Slot said.Konate is out of contract at the end of the season(Image: 2026 Liverpool FC)"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."Liverpool is in the midst of an overhaul in the center of defense, amid the uncertainty surrounding the futures of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Konate.READ MORE: Arne Slot faces Liverpool dilemma as Rio Ngumoha responds to Steven GerrardREAD MORE: Kylian Mbappe says no to Real Madrid offer after Trent Alexander-Arnold banVan Dijk, who turns 35 in July, is out of contract next year, while Gomez's deal also expires in 2027, and he could be moved on in the summer.The club has taken steps to address the situation over the last two transfer windows, signing young defenders in Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet.Liverpool acquired Leoni last summer and agreed a deal to sign Jacquet in January, with the Frenchman due to make the move to Merseyside this summer.Both players have suffered serious injuries this term, though: Leoni sustained a season-ending knee injury on his Liverpool debut last September, while Jacquet recently underwent surgery on a shoulder injury that he sustained in February.Liverpool was interested in signing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace last summer but was not willing to match Manchester City's offer for the England international during the January transfer window, so he ended up moving to the Etihad Stadium instead.Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Ibrahima KonatéLiverpool FC