Revealed: How much Real Madrid are willing to pay for Ibrahima Konate as Spanish giants eager to reunite Liverpool star with Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer

When it comes to Konate, Real Madrid want to follow the same recipe they implemented to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer. Madrid prefer to sign Konate as a free agent after his contract at Liverpool expires next summer. However, under certain circumstances, the 15-time European champions could rather opt to buy the defender this summer instead of waiting to snap him up for free in 2026.

According to CadenaSER, Madrid will not pay more than €25 million (£22m/$29m) for Konate's services. Los Blancos are aware that the odds are heavily stacked in their favour, with the centre-back keen on playing for the Spanish heavyweights. However, Liverpool will not make life easy for Madrid. While they would have no issues cashing in on the French centre-back this summer, they have slapped a non-negotiable price tag of €50m (£43m/$58m).

Konate has already declined multiple renewal offers from Liverpool, having entered into the final year of his contract. The French international has made it clear that he would be open to a departure from Anfield this summer as long as it's Madrid who sign him. However, he reportedly doesn't have any issues in running down his contract and emulate his former team-mate Alexander-Arnold.

While Madrid are more inclined towards signing Konate for free next summer, a policy they have mastered in recent years, they could make a late push to sign him this summer if they manage to offload some players. David Alaba, who was similarly signed for free from Bayern Munich in 2021, has entered the final year of his contract. The Merengues would be keen to offload him this summer, given that he's the team's second-highest earner behind Kylian Mbappe.