Real Madrid can have Ibou Konate cheap IF they return the favour to Liverpool

Real Madrid want Ibrahima Konate on the cheap this summer. They can have him - if they return the favour to Liverpool.

Real Madrid are a bit desperate right now. The FIFA Club World Cup was an eye-opener, sealing their trophyless season and showing them up as a wildly underperforming team.

Diogo Jota: Thank you

Paris Saint-Germain played them off the pitch. Real were nowhere near them and looking at their squad, it’s not easy to tell how they immediately improve.

One area where they are targeting is centre-back. They unquestionably can upgrade there and all reports suggest Ibrahima Konate is at the top of their shortlist because of his contract situation.

Konate’s contract expires at the end of the season, allowing him to leave for free. It’s the Real Madrid special - snap him up without a fee because they’re the ultimate club who everyone wants to join.

We’ll see how long that lasts but for now, they do have the pulling power. AS reports that Konate wants to go there and will join, though ideally Real Madrid would sign him now.

Liverpool have a €50m price tag on their star, however, and it’s not one Los Blancos are willing to meet. That’s a problem but one we think everyone can get around.

READ MORE: Diogo Jota's legacy is bigger than any of us realised

Ibrahima Konate for Rodrygo Goes

If Konate really is destined for Real Madrid, it does make sense for Liverpool to get something for him. Though it appears the only place they will get that is from Madrid, who the Frenchman is eager to join.

And we know they're desperate. They paid £10m for Trent Alexander-Arnold purely for the Club World Cup - a completely failed endeavour and a massive waste of money.

So if they want Konate for this upcoming season but won't pay his asking price, we think there's a different deal to strike. We're big fans of Rodrygo Goes, a player Liverpool have tracked for years now.

The Reds wanted to sign Rodrygo before Real Madrid, striking a deal with Santos to sign him. The Brazilians pulled out at the last moment, however, as they believed they'd secure a lot more by waiting a year. They were correct, of course.

Now, however, Real Madrid want to sell him. There doesn't appear to be much of a future for Rodrygo under Xabi Alonso and the club feel he should move on.

He could be an ideal signing for Liverpool, who risk losing Luis Diaz this summer. Rodrygo, as a wonderfully versatile forward who can play all over the attack, would be a perfect replacement.

So if Real Madrid feel Liverpool should lower their asking price, they should lower Rodrygo's for the Reds. Strike a deal here for everyone to get what they want at a decent price.

READ MORE: How the gamer celebration became the world's way to honour Diogo Jota

Real Madrid would get the defender they crave and guarantee a misfit player leaves the club. Liverpool would get a fee for a player otherwise leaving for free and a forward to rejuvenate their attack. Everyone's a winner.

Rest in peace, Diogo Jota.