Real Madrid continue to show interest in Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté, after considering signing him last summer.
On September 26th, ESPN Deportes reported the defender had jumped to the top of Real Madrid’s centre-back target list.
Last month, the France international said his compatriot, Kylian Mbappé, had called him about a potential move to Real Madrid.
Konaté is in his final year of contract and Wednesday’s edition of AS says Liverpool ‘fear’ losing him for free.
It could be the 26-year-old’s last season at Liverpool and AS say it ‘looks set to be fraught with difficulties.’ The newspaper says this is because Arne Slot seems to be distancing himself from the centre-back.
Last weekend, Konaté came off injured in Liverpool’s defeat to Chelsea. After the match, Slot said he had already thought about replacing him for tactical reasons.
Last Friday, he said: “If you’re losing a game, it doesn’t help if you lose the ball several times very easily. Konaté has been one of them, though not the only one. In the last two games, it’s been obvious and clear that we’ve made some mistakes, but not just Konaté, others too.”
Although the English press said the Reds manager came out in Konaté’s defence, AS claim the Dutchman ‘lashed out’ at the player.
The newspaper are using Slot’s recent comments about the Frenchman to suggest there’s distance between the pair. They add this could impact his future at Anfield while it also clashes with Liverpool’s long-term plans for him.
Liverpool are said to be conveying their effort regarding renewing his contract. They will push until the end although AS say it ‘remains a wish’ for now. There’s belief these factors could pave the way for Konaté to join Real Madrid.
Konaté could leave Liverpool for Real Madrid next summer. However, the arguments used by AS today doesn’t seem convincing and feel more like what Madrid fans want to hear.
