Ibrahima Konaté Rejects Liverpool Contract Offer Amid Real Madrid Interest
Liverpool face a serious defensive headache after Ibrahima Konaté rejected the club’s latest contract offer, making clear his preference to move to Real Madrid, as first reported by Foot Mercato and confirmed on June 26, 2025.
The 26-year-old Frenchman, who joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 for £35 million, is under contract until the end of the 2025/26 season. However, negotiations over an extension have broken down due to a salary structure that relied too heavily on performance bonuses, falling short of the £200,000-per-week base salary Konaté seeks. The Reds’ last offer was significantly lower than deals handed to teammates Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
A central pillar of Liverpool’s title-winning 2024/25 campaign, Konaté made 78 clearances, 45 interceptions, and completed 88% of his passes last season. Yet, despite his defensive contributions and a burgeoning partnership with Van Dijk, he appears determined to seek a new challenge away from Anfield.
Real Madrid, who recently secured Trent Alexander-Arnold for £8.4 million, lead the chase. The prospect of reuniting with Alexander-Arnold at the Bernabéu is reportedly an enticing factor. PSG and Barcelona are also keeping tabs on the French international, though Madrid are believed to be in pole position.
Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has urged the club to sell if Konaté will not budge. “If Konaté doesn’t want to commit to Liverpool’s wage structure, let him go,” Collymore told TalkSport, suggesting Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi as a potential replacement.
Fans on social media are split — some see Konaté as irreplaceable, praising his aerial dominance and physicality, while others point to inconsistent performances and feel a £40-50 million sale would suit the club’s summer rebuild.
Compounding Liverpool’s defensive woes is Jarell Quansah’s £35 million sale to Bayer Leverkusen and Andy Robertson’s long-term ACL injury, leaving Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and new arrival Milos Kerkez as senior options at the back. The Reds are pushing to advance talks for Guéhi, hoping to offset the potential loss.
With supporters already reeling from Alexander-Arnold’s departure, Konaté’s potential exit threatens to be another major blow. One fan summed up the mood on X: “Losing Ibou after Trent? Heartbreaking.” Arne Slot now faces a pivotal decision as Liverpool aim to bolster their backline and defend their Premier League crown.
