Konate set for Real Madrid move on a free after Liverpool contract talks collapse

Ibrahima Konate is in advanced talks to join Real Madrid on a free transfer after Liverpool confirmed the French centre-back will depart when his contract expires at the end of this summer.

The 25-year-old had been in discussions with Liverpool throughout the season over a new deal, but the two parties were unable to reach an agreement, ending a five-year association with Anfield. Real Madrid are Konate’s first-choice destination, and a move is expected to be completed provided Florentino Pérez is re-elected as club president, according to the Telegraph.

The news represents a significant shift from April, when Konate publicly stated he was “close to an agreement” and indicated he was keen to remain on Merseyside. His departure was confirmed last week after negotiations finally broke down.

Konate’s time at Liverpool was not without turbulence in his final season. Several pundits suggested that uncertainty over his contract affected his performances, and manager Arne Slot publicly criticised the defender at one stage. Konate did recover his form, however, finishing the campaign as a regular starter alongside Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool have already moved to address the defensive gap. In January the club agreed a deal worth up to £60 million for Jeremy Jacquet, the highly-rated young centre-back from Rennes. The club also signed Giovanni Leoni last summer, though the Italian suffered a season-ending injury on his debut.

Whether Liverpool will pursue a direct replacement for Konate remains unclear, with that decision likely to fall to whoever is appointed as the next head coach. Slot was dismissed last week, and Andoni Iraola is currently the leading candidate to take charge.

For Real Madrid, landing Konate would continue a well-established pattern of acquiring elite players without a transfer fee. The club signed Kylian Mbappé on a free from PSG and last summer brought in Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool, paying a £10 million fee to accelerate that deal ahead of schedule.

Madrid are navigating a broader period of transition. José Mourinho has agreed to return as manager for a second stint, while Vinicius Júnior, Federico Valverde, and Aurélien Tchouaméni have all been linked with exits from the Bernabéu.