Liverpool have been hit hard by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave the club for Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer – and now they fear that history could repeat itself.
Although they eventually managed to get both Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to extend their contracts, concerns are growing among Arne Slot’s team that Real Madrid have now set their sights on a new cheap signing from their squad.
Read: José Mourinho wants to reunite with David de Gea
According to Spanish Marca, Liverpool are experiencing a disturbing repeat of Ibrahima Konaté’s situation:
“At Anfield, they feel a strange déjà vu after the Frenchman Konaté has rejected contract extensions. They are starting to see the same warning signs that they experienced just a year ago, when Alexander-Arnold first said no to new deals,” reports the Spanish newspaper.
Konaté’s key role
Konaté’s current contract with Liverpool expires in June 2026, putting him in the same position as Andrew Robertson and Caoimhin Kelleher – first-choice players with just one year left on their deals.
But the 25-year-old France international is the player Liverpool would most like to keep. With an estimated market value (ETV) of €57.2 million, he is the club’s most valuable defender – even more valuable than Trent. He will also be one of only two defenders under the age of 28 when next season starts.
Real Madrid game
Marca suggests that the outlook for Liverpool looks bleak:
“Liverpool knows how Real Madrid operates. Their suspicions lead them to believe that history may repeat itself with yet another key player disappearing without them getting anything in return,” the newspaper warns.
Konaté has already rejected several attempts by Liverpool to extend his contract, giving Real Madrid hope of signing him on a free transfer in the summer of 2025 – just like with Alexander-Arnold this summer.
Read on F7: Netflix to introduce AI-generated commercials
