Real Madrid just did Liverpool a MASSIVE unexpected favour

Real Madrid have just given a huge favour to Liverpool and few saw it coming. We'll certainly take it.

Liverpool have been in contract talks with Ibrahima Konate for around a year now. The defender has not renewed, however, and will enter the final six months of his deal in around 30 days.

Once that happens, Konate is free to negotiate with non-English clubs. He could even sign a pre-contract to kick in at the end of the campaign.

The closer we get to that mark, the more difficult it is for Liverpool to convince Konate to sign. And that's the case even if he wants to renew - it makes sense for the player to wait it out and see what offers arrive in January.

Moreover, it's much harder to get a player to renew his contract for the money you want if you also know he's got potentially enormous offers elsewhere. Liverpool's positions has gotten weaker and weaker as time goes on.

Until now, anyway.

Real Madrid are out of race for Ibrahima Konate

Real Madrid have been the main team pushing for Konate. It makes sense for them to be in for him - a free transfer for a title-winning elite defender. He's even got experience of playing alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold.

But the Athletic now reports that Real Madrid have let Liverpool know that they won't be moving for Konate. That's actually a surprise, given all the talk over the last year.

It's also a huge favour that they've let the Reds know. That significantly weakens Konate's negotiating position as Liverpool are perfectly aware that there's no alternative offer from what's perceived as the player's preferred destination.

In a fierce centre-back market - both Marc Guehi and Dayot Upamecano are out of contract - Konate is not the main prize. He's actually become a consolation prize and that makes Liverpool's offer a lot more tempting.

So what looked like a definite exit as the player rejected offers suddenly looks like a probably renewal. Konate may have offers elsewhere but it's now unlikely that the big-money deals are on the table for him.

Advantage Liverpool.

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