Liverpool and Real Madrid may entertain a swap deal, and it could make perfect sense for Arne Slot and Xabi Alonso’s sides.
Liverpool will begin the 2025/26 Premier League campaign as champions, having comfortably won their 20th English league title during Slot’s first season in charge in 2024/25.
Several new recruits have already joined the Reds this summer, with Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong arriving from Bayer Leverkusen, while Freddie Woodman joined from Preston North End and Milos Kerkez made the switch from fellow Premier League outfit Bournemouth.
But the Reds’ business is far from done. On Tuesday (July 15), The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported that Liverpool “have made an approach” to sign Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, while no official offer was put forward.
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As for Real Madrid, it has been a summer of change in the Spanish capital, with Carlo Ancelotti making way for new head coach Alonso.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen and former Manchester United left-back Alvaro Carreras have arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu as Los Blancos look to improve on a trophyless 2024/25 campaign.
And despite already doing business for Alexander-Arnold’s switch to Madrid, the clubs could take part in a swap deal.
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It would arguably make sense to strike a deal with regards to centre-back Ibrahima Konate and winger Rodrygo.
On Monday, journalist Fabrizio Romano told DAZN that the Spanish side were interested in the France centre-back.
“We can confirm that Real Madrid are working on a deal to sign Ibrahima Konate in the summer of 2026 on a free transfer,” Romano said.
“Similar to the Trent Alexander-Arnold situation once again, Real Madrid are really interested in the player.
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“They already had some contact to be informed about the situation of the player. Real Madrid are very attentive to this case.
“At the moment, there is no proposal, there is nothing official as he is still a Liverpool player, so Real Madrid will respect that, but the interest is there.”
Konate, 26, is contracted to Liverpool until June 2026.
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Meanwhile, Brazil international Rodrygo, 24, has been linked with a move away from Madrid, having previously been linked with transfers to Arsenal and Chelsea.
The 24-year-old, who is contracted to Madrid until June 2028, fell out of favour with Ancelotti towards the latter part of last season and is said to be valued at around €100 million (£86.6m) as per This Is Anfield.
At this time, this is merely a suggestion with no official reports claiming that a swap is something being considered this summer.
But if this were to be the case, Madrid may feel cash should be involved in the deal, given the fact that Rodrygo has two years more left on his deal than Konate.
Topics: Liverpool, Real Madrid, Transfer News, Football, Premier League, La Liga, Ibrahima Konate, Rodrygo
Luke Davies