MADRID, SPAIN / LIVERPOOL, UK – Real Madrid has reportedly pulled the plug on their long-standing interest in Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté, informing the Premier League club that they will not proceed with a deal to sign the Frenchman in the summer of 2026.
The sudden withdrawal ends months of speculation that had placed Konaté at the top of Madrid’s centre-back shortlist.
Madrid Shifts Focus to Alternative Targets
The decision comes as a relief to Liverpool, who had faced the prospect of losing a key player on a free transfer next summer, following a path similar to that of Trent Alexander-Arnold the previous year.
While Konaté has been on Madrid’s radar for a significant time, The Athletic reports that Los Blancos have now chosen to move on.
Sources suggest Madrid has cooled its pursuit and has now turned its attention to other French defenders, with Dayot Upamecano of Bayern Munich reportedly becoming their new priority target for the 2026 defensive rebuild.
Konaté Contract Talks Now Crucial
The withdrawal from Real Madrid places the ball firmly back in Konaté’s court regarding his future at Anfield.
The defender’s current contract expires in the summer of 2026, meaning he can begin negotiating a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January onwards.
Liverpool has already made a proposal for a new long-term contract, reportedly a “generous” one, and is now waiting for the Frenchman to make a final decision.
While Paris Saint-Germain is also believed to retain an interest, the departure of Real Madrid from the bidding war significantly simplifies the situation, giving Liverpool renewed hope of convincing Konaté to sign the new deal before the end of the year.
