Real Madrid make long-awaited decision; Liverpool forced to act

Real Madrid have made a major decision. Liverpool have got to act now, however, as it absolutely affects them.

Real Madrid appear to have picked their centre-back for next season. Or at least, they’ve picked the one they want to go for.

Sport reports that they want to sign Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund. Barcelona, another club looking at the German, will step aside and aim elsewhere, deciding he’s not quite worth the fight.

Or at least, Schlotterbeck isn’t what Barcelona are looking for right now. It presents Real Madrid with a golden opportunity to get the player they want.

And they’ve certainly had their pick of them. The centre-back market is a very interesting one right now, with plenty of elite options looking for moves.

The closer we get to the end of the season, however, the fewer targets are available. This might be another off the table - and that forces Liverpool to take action.

Liverpool's centre-back headache

Liverpool wanted Schlotterbeck back at the end of 2025 and almost certainly still have him on their shortlist for the summer. The German's contract expires in 2027, with Dortmund essentially forced into selling him before that.

Now, if Real Madrid are to sign Schlotterbeck, Liverpool must look elsewhere. But that could also simply be at home - Ibrahima Konate, after all, is out of contract this summer.

But his options are drying up. Real Madrid won't sign him, it seems, while Bayern Munich have re-signed Dayot Upamecano. Marc Guehi's move to Manchester City rules them out, too.

Those deals all rule out alternatives for Liverpool, as well. That further pushes forward the idea that the best thing for both club and player is a new deal - one that ties Konate to Anfield and eliminates both of them from this mad grab for centre-backs.

No matter what, though, Real Madrid going all-in on Schlotterbeck makes Liverpool act in one way or another. It means the German is a very difficult player to sign as they look for a new centre-back.

And it also makes them strong favourites to keep Konate.

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