Revealed: Liverpool's big transfer fear over Ibrahima Konate amid Real Madrid interest

Determined not to repeat the painful Trent Alexander-Arnold saga, Liverpool’s hierarchy are scrambling to tie Konaté down to fresh terms but fear he's already agreed a deal to move to Madrid. The club are set to table a lucrative new deal within days, hoping to keep one of Arne Slot’s few fit senior defenders at Anfield. Every possible lever is being pulled, all aimed at convincing the France international to commit his future to Merseyside. The message from the boardroom is clear: they cannot afford to see him walk away for free. 

According to Marca,Liverpool's stance is firm. If Konate turns down this new offer again, the club will consider putting him on the market before the transfer window shuts. While they would rather keep him, selling now would at least ensure a minimum fee instead of watching him depart for nothing next summer.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are quietly playing the long game. The Anfield bosses fear that Konate has already made a verbal commitment to Los Blancos. If that’s true, Madrid could simply wait until January, when Konate would be free to sign a pre-contract agreement. 

Xabi Alonso’s squad planning has also been adjusted to accommodate a potential new arrival. By keeping a place open in the senior team, by registering Franco Mastantuono with Real Madrid Castilla, the Merengues are ensuring they have space for Konate without needing to offload any existing first-team members.

In what many view as a telltale move, Liverpool have already agreed a £26 million (€30m) deal with Parma for teenage defensive prodigy Giovanni Leoni. The 18-year-old Italian youth international is expected in Merseyside this week for a medical and to finalise personal terms. The transfer all but confirms Liverpool are bracing for any eventuality, including the worst-case scenario of losing Konate before the transfer window is closed.

Liverpool kick off their Premier League title defence against Bournemouth on Friday. At present, Konate and Virgil van Dijk are Slot’s only fully fit senior central defenders, with Joe Gomez just returning from a lengthy Achilles layoff. This means the Dutch manager has little option but to field the French international against The Cherries.