Liverpool may have a fresh concern on their hands, and it comes wrapped in laughter. Ibrahima Konate has joked that his France teammate Kylian Mbappé “calls me every two hours” to convince him about joining Real Madrid.
It was said in jest, but with the defender’s contract running down, the Reds are not exactly laughing.
The 26-year-old is in the final year of his deal at Anfield. Liverpool have been trying to tie him down, but talks have yet to reach a breakthrough.
Reports in Spain suggest Madrid are watching closely, hoping to repeat their recent swoop for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Konate has started all of Liverpool’s league games this season, showing his importance to the backline. Yet, his future is now the subject of growing speculation.
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Madrid links to Konate no longer just banter?
During his TV appearance in France, Konate kept the mood light. “He calls me every two hours! No, no, no,” he joked when asked if Mbappe was pushing him to Madrid.
Still, those words have fueled the chatter.
Liverpool sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer and moved for Giovanni Leoni from Parma. A late deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi collapsed on deadline day. That leaves the Reds short of senior depth if Konate does not commit.
Meanwhile, Mbappe has been busy praising teammates Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi as possible Ballon d’Or winners.
But when it comes to Liverpool, he has also tipped them as one of the strongest sides in Europe this season. “Of course, Liverpool has to be mentioned first and foremost, as they’re determined to win one title after another,” he told German outlet BILD.
For Liverpool fans, the worry is clear. A joke today could turn into a real transfer saga tomorrow. And with Madrid circling, the Reds cannot afford to be caught offside.
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