Real Madrid’s search for defensive reinforcements has taken a familiar turn. According to fresh reports, Los Blancos have revived their interest in Liverpool center-back Ibrahima Konate, eyeing a potential free transfer swoop when his contract expires at the end of the current season.
While interest seemed to have cooled in late 2025, the landscape at the Santiago Bernabeu has shifted dramatically, forcing the club hierarchy to look effectively at the summer market.
Why the U-Turn? The Defensive Dilemma
Back in December, reports from The Daily Mail suggested Madrid had stepped away from Konate, content with the partnership of Dean Huijsen and Eder Militao. However, football moves fast.
Since then, Huijsen’s form has reportedly dipped, and Militao has faced recurring fitness struggles. To complicate matters further, veteran defenders Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba are both approaching the end of their contracts, leaving Madrid facing a potential shortage at the back.
With club legend Alvaro Arbeloa now at the helm as manager, replacing Xabi Alonso, the focus has sharpened on rebuilding a resilient backline for the future.
The Condition: “Lower Your Demands”
According to Rodra, a correspondent for ESPN Madrid, the European champions are closely monitoring Konate’s situation but have one clear stipulation: the Frenchman must adjust his financial expectations.
“Madrid have identified signing a new center-back as one of their objectives in the summer,” Rodra told ESPN. “They are closely monitoring players whose contracts are expiring, and Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate is one of them. His financial demands previously ruled Madrid out, but if Konate lowers those, he could become an option again.”
For Florentino Perez, a master of the free agency market, Konate represents a “market opportunity”—a world-class defender available for zero transfer fee, provided the wage structure fits.
Crunch Time at Anfield: The Friday Meeting
Liverpool are not going down without a fight. The Reds have reportedly scheduled a critical meeting with Konate’s agent this Friday in a final attempt to secure his future at Anfield.
Negotiations have stalled since September 2024, and Liverpool are eager to close the deal to avoid losing a key asset for free. However, they are already preparing contingencies, with young talents Jeremy Jacquet (joining from Rennes) and Giovanni Leoni (returning from ACL injury) expected to bolster their ranks next season.
The Verdict for Madridistas
If Liverpool’s “final push” on Friday fails to produce a signature, the door swings wide open for Real Madrid. With Arbeloa needing reliability at the back and the club seeking smart business, a free transfer for a 26-year-old internationally proven center-back checks every box—if the price is right.