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Topics: Real Madrid, Liverpool, Transfers, Ibrahima Konate, Football
Marcus Banks
Topics: Real Madrid, Liverpool, Transfers, Ibrahima Konate, Football
Real Madrid’s policy of landing high-profile players on a free transfer looks set to continue and two Premier League sides could lose out.
Madrid have shifted their transfer policy in recent years to targeting huge players who could run down their contract and move to the Bernabeu for absolutely nothing.
In four of the last five transfer windows, Madrid have secured the service of a high-profile star involving no transfer fee; David Alaba in 2021, Antonio Rudiger in 2022, Kylian Mbappe in 2024 and most recently Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool.
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The boyhood Liverpool supporter was persuaded to run down his contract at Anfield and move to the Spanish capital at the end of the season; Real Madrid ultimately negotiated a £10m fee for the England international so he could join the squad for the Club World Cup.
Despite splashing out on both Dean Huijsen and Franco Mastantuono, reports suggest Madrid have already started planning their next huge free transfer and two Premier League clubs are in danger.
Marca claim teams are starting to ‘fear’ Real Madrid’s transfer policy and that Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate is the favourite to move for nothing.
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The report states Liverpool’s hierarchy are smelling another situation similar to Alexander-Arnold with the latest contract offer being rejected by the Frenchman with his current deal set to expire next summer.
Furthermore, Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly is being earmarked as another player to sign for nothing and his name has been discussed alongside Valencia youngster Cristhian Mosquera.
Nevertheless, Konate is believed to be the player Madrid are most interested in signing.
Contract talks over a renewal at Liverpool ‘progressed’ in May according to the Liverpool ECHO’s Paul Gorst.
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Previous reports claimed Konate was not happy with Liverpool's offer amid interest from Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain whereas others claimed he was close to putting pen to paper on a new deal but the 26-year-old moved to rubbish suggestions that was the case.
He told reporters: “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!?'
"Because 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."