Liverpool 'receive first contact' from Real Madrid as Ibrahima Konate transfer accelerated

Real Madrid have reportedly accelerated their interest in signing Ibrahima Konate by opening talks with Liverpool. The defender is said to have emerged as a target for the Spanish giants, who are looking to add to their existing options at the back. Konate is only tied down at Liverpool until the end of the upcoming season and is yet to sign a new deal.

A move to the Bernabeu appears to be a real possibility, given that Real Madrid usually get their own way in the transfer market. They were initially expected to wait until next summer, when Konate will become a free agent if he decides against extending his Liverpool stay. However, it seems the La Liga heavyweights are now looking to sign him this summer.

They reached out to the Reds earlier this week to discuss their interest in bringing Konate to the Spanish capital, according to L'Equipe. The report states that Real Madrid asked about the kind of money that would be required to secure a deal.

Liverpool chiefs are said to be open to the idea of selling Konate, rather than losing him for nothing in a year's time. It has been claimed that around £43.5million would be enough to tempt the Premier League champions into doing business.

They are not in the strongest position to negotiate, though. Real Madrid can simply wait until Konate's contract expires before snapping him up on a free transfer, meaning it could be in Liverpool's interest to take whatever they can get.

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Real Madrid used a similar tactic to land Trent Alexander-Arnold earlier this summer. They ended up paying just £10m to secure his services in time for the Club World Cup, with Liverpool having little choice but to accept a low-ball offer.

It was reported last month that Konate was looking for a 'new challenge' following a breakdown in talks over a new contract. He played a key role for the Merseyside giants last season as they wrapped up the Premier League title with four games to spare.

The defender issued an update on his future earlier this year, saying: "You know, I just want to say one thing. Everything you saw on social media is completely fake. 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?'. 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."

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