Countdown BEGINS for Liverpool starter to join Real Madrid

Liverpool lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid at the end of the 2024/25 season. Although the England international’s contract was due to expire on June 30, Madrid opted to pay around £8.4m in order for him to be released early.

It means Xabi Alonso has got Trent available for the FIFA Club World Cup - and Liverpool managed to bank an unexpected fee for the 26-year-old.

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He did however run down in contract in the expectation of earning a high-paying free transfer to the Bernabeu.

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And that is a situation that is playing out time and again in the offices of the 15-time European champions. In recent seasons we’ve seen Kylian Mbappe, David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger run down their deals and move to Madrid on a free.

It is something, according to a new report on Marca, that other teams around Europe have come to fear. And it’s a situation that threatens to be repeated next summer when Ibrahima Konate’s contract runs out.

Liverpool FEAR Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are both known to be keen on adding the 26-year-old. Having signed for Liverpool back in 2021 from RB Leipzig, Konate has now moved into the final 12 months of his deal.

The Spanish report now claims that Konate has already started his “countdown” for a Madrid move next summer.

“Teams fear Real Madrid,” the report reads. “They know that if they cross paths with those players who don't renew their contracts in their final year, either their future will become more expensive or they'll end up leaving.

“Liverpool is moving in that direction with the future of Konaté, a center-back who has already started the countdown on his contract and has rejected the renewal offered at Anfield.

“Liverpool's directors are already sensing another deal similar to the one witnessed this season with Alexander Arnold, whose departure from the English club in exchange for zero euros had the Club World Cup not taken place.”

Should Liverpool sell Konate?

It leaves sporting director Richard Hughes in a difficult situation. Renewing Konate’s deal will cost around £200k per week - a sizeable increase on his current £140k per week pay packet.

But without a renewal, Liverpool are practically guaranteed to lose him for free next summer.

So would Liverpool consider a sale in this transfer window?

PSG, as reported by Anfieldwatch, have made a pretty attractive offer to the France international. The European champions plan to move on from veteran Marquinhos soon and are reported to see Konate as the ideal successor.

It remains to be seen how this situation plays out over the summer.

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With Konate already said to have rejected one contract offer from the Reds, his future is less secure than ever and Real Madrid are well aware.