Real Madrid have signed Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool this summer and are now reportedly looking to line up a move for one of his former teammates next summer
Real Madrid are reportedly plotting a swoop for another Liverpool star after signing Trent Alexander-Arnold. The England international joined Madrid after running down his contract at Anfield, with the LaLiga giants paying £10million to release him from his deal early so he could feature at the Club World Cup.
Madrid have signed a number of players in similar situations to Alexander-Arnold in recent years, which has allowed them to avoid shelling out huge transfer fees. Kylian Mbappe joined on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, while David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger also signed from Bayern Munich and Chelsea respectively after their deals expired.
And according to a new report from Spanish outlet Marca, Madrid are looking to repeat this trick again with Alexander-Arnold's former Liverpool teammate Ibrahima Konate. The centre-back's current deal is due to expire in 2026 and he is yet to agree terms over an extension.
The report claims that Konate has 'already started the countdown on his contract' and has rejected Liverpool's latest offer of a new deal, with club chiefs fearing a repeat of the Alexander-Arnold saga.
Konate spoke out about his future after Liverpool's final Premier League game last month, admitting he is unsure what will happen. "You know, I just want to say one thing: Everything you saw on social media is completely fake," he said.
"I didn't even ask for something from the club. They made me an offer, and I replied to them with something, that is it. The rest (speculation) that I want to wait until the end...I want this, all of it is completely fake.
"And even the big journalists said in November I am very close to signing the deal. I was like: 'Ah, they have more information than me!?' Because it was not true at that moment and that is why I was a little bit mad because it was not true at this moment.
"I knew at one moment people would think I didn't want to sign the contract but I was never close to signing it. We will see what will happen. First thing, I am very happy because we have won the Premier League trophy and we lifted it today.
"We have to enjoy it, have a rest and hopefully next season will be better than this. I didn't expect the [contract] question this way! (laughs) But you are smart, you're smart. To be fair, to win a trophy, even when I won my first trophy with Liverpool, the FA Cup, was just amazing.
"And today, to win the Premier League, I know I have a lot of objectives with this club: to become a leader, to win everything. I am very happy here to be fair, you know. But I know where you want to go with this question and this is another conversation with the club and my agent, we will see what will happen in the next few weeks or I don't know when but we will see, let me say that.
"Progressing? Not really but my agent met the club last week but I don't know what will happen. I cannot say what my agent said to me but yeah, we will see what will happen."