Real Madrid’s Final Transfer Decision on Ibrahima Konate

Real Madrid’s Defensive Concerns

Real Madrid’s recent exit from the FIFA Club World Cup highlighted their defensive vulnerabilities, particularly with Raul Asencio and Antonio Rudiger facing criticism for their performances. While Asencio has recently signed a new contract and is seen as a long-term project for the club, doubts linger over Rudiger’s ability to maintain his level of play at the highest stage.

Despite the positive start from Dean Huijsen and the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Real Madrid is still looking to strengthen their defensive line for the upcoming season. With Alvaro Carreras also joining the team, there will be three new starting defenders for the 2025/26 campaign.

The Pursuit of Ibrahima Konate

One player who remains on Real Madrid’s radar is Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate. The talented center back has been in contract negotiations with Liverpool, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the upcoming season. Real Madrid is monitoring the situation closely, with hopes of potentially securing Konate’s services.

While Liverpool is eager to avoid losing Konate for free in 2026, Real Madrid is prepared to wait and potentially sign him without paying a transfer fee. The club’s confidence in Konate’s desire to make the move to Madrid over other potential destinations is high, but negotiations are ongoing, and a deal is not expected to be finalized in the near future.

Reports suggest that Real Madrid will follow a similar approach to Konate’s transfer as they did with Alexander-Arnold, waiting for the right moment to secure his services. Despite the defensive challenges faced by the team, including the need for a new center back, Real Madrid is taking a patient approach in the pursuit of Konate.