Real Madrid consider move for Liverpool’s Konaté

Madrid reassess defensive needs

Real Madrid’s concerns at the back have resurfaced after Brazilian defender Éder Militão suffered a serious injury that is expected to keep him out for an extended period. For readers unfamiliar with the situation, Militão is one of the club’s most reliable centre backs, and his absence leaves Real Madrid with limited senior options in central defense during a period when the team competes on multiple fronts, including La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.

Given the pressure of maintaining squad depth across these competitions, the club is reevaluating possible short term solutions as well as longer term options. According to the Spanish outlet DefensaCentral, one of the names under renewed consideration is Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté.

Why Konaté has entered the discussion

Konaté, a 24 year old French international, has been an important rotational starter for Liverpool since joining from RB Leipzig in 2021. His combination of pace, strength and ball playing ability has made him a valuable part of Liverpool’s defensive setup under manager Jürgen Klopp.

According to DefensaCentral, Real Madrid’s interest is connected to the fact that Konaté reportedly has only six months remaining on his current contract. Although this detail has not been confirmed by English based reporters, the claim suggests that Liverpool could face a decision over whether to negotiate a transfer fee now or risk losing the player for free when his contract expires.

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For readers outside the football world, short contract situations often create market opportunities because clubs prefer to sell a player early rather than allow them to leave without compensation.

A potential low cost opportunity

DefensaCentral reports that Konaté could be available for around £15 million, a figure far below what Liverpool originally paid and significantly lower than the market value of most starting calibre centre backs in Europe. In modern football economics, where elite defenders often command fees above £50 million, a £15 million price tag is considered unusually low.

The report stresses that neither Liverpool nor Real Madrid has publicly commented on the matter, and there is no independent confirmation from major UK based or Madrid based outlets. Even so, the possibility of a financially modest deal has reportedly prompted Real Madrid to revisit the idea as they balance injury concerns with long term planning.

How Liverpool’s situation shapes the discussion

Liverpool have not indicated whether they would consider a mid season sale. The club is currently competing for domestic and European trophies, and selling an important defender in January could reduce their depth at a critical stage.

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For context, Liverpool are already managing a demanding fixture schedule, and the Premier League title race is expected to remain tight. Even if a reduced fee becomes tempting due to the contract situation, the timing may ultimately make the club reluctant to negotiate.

What this means for the winter market

The January transfer window is often unpredictable, with clubs making decisions based on injuries, contract situations, competitive pressure and financial considerations. According to DefensaCentral, Real Madrid are weighing the immediate need to reinforce their defensive line against the long term implications of bringing in a player who may expect significant playing time.

Whether an official offer emerges may depend on Liverpool’s willingness to listen, the accuracy of the reported contract situation and Real Madrid’s assessment of other defensive options available on the market. For now, Konaté’s future remains one of several developing storylines that could influence how Europe’s major clubs navigate the upcoming winter window.

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