Liverpool’s season has hit another roadblock — and it’s one they didn’t need. Just when fans hoped the injury bug had settled, Ibrahima Konate’s name has once again made the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
According to Spanish outlet Marca, Real Madrid’s interest in the French defender has taken a serious turn. With his Liverpool contract running out in 2026, the 26-year-old is reportedly Madrid’s top target to sign as a free agent next summer.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Arne Slot. His defense is already stretched thin after Giovanni Leoni’s ACL injury, leaving just three senior center-backs: Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Konate himself.
Now, with doubts over Konate’s fitness and loyalty, Liverpool’s backline looks more fragile than ever.
Marca’s respected journalist Jose Felix Diaz described Madrid as “the terror of the market for players who are out of contract.” He wrote:
“All clubs know that when the white club moves around a player, whose contractual relationship is near, there is a danger that he will end up falling into the seduction that coaches and directors of the Madrid entity know how to execute perfectly.”
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Konate’s commitment in question?
It gets worse for Liverpool. Marca claims that, internally, some at Anfield now believe Konate’s supposed admiration for Madrid is “more than just a rumor.” Diaz added:
“Liverpool’s French international has been talked about for a long time and at Anfield, given the refusals to renew his contract… they think that the commitment he has with Real Madrid is more than just a rumor.”
That revelation hits hard, especially when Liverpool can’t afford to lose another key defender. Madrid reportedly view Konate as a natural successor to Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba, both nearing the end of their deals.
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Ibrahima Konate injury update
Meanwhile, on the pitch, the Reds’ defense continues to wobble. Konate limped off during the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea after 56 minutes, prompting fears of a quad injury. Slot offered a cautious update:
“I don’t know if it’s a big injury, but I do know that he limped. I asked him, and he said, ‘I feel my quad a little bit.’”
The Frenchman still joined up with the France national team, but sat out of training earlier this week. While reports suggest the injury isn’t serious, Liverpool will be sweating over his condition — and possibly his future.
With Gomez short of match rhythm and Leoni sidelined, Liverpool’s defensive situation is starting to look like a game of musical chairs — and nobody wants to be left standing when the music stops.