Liverpool star defender Ibrahima Konate’s future at Anfield is filled with uncertainty as Arne Slot pushes to defend the Premier League crown in the upcoming campaign.
The French defender was key to Slot’s plans in guiding Liverpool to the Premier League title in the Dutch manager’s debut season at Merseyside.
However, in recent weeks, there have been murmurs of Konate looking to run down his contract as Real Madrid are eyeing a move for the 26-year-old centre-back.
Los Blancos have already raided Liverpool earlier when they signed Trent Alexander-Arnold and are now eyeing a similar move for Konate next summer.
The France international’s current contract runs out next summer, and clubs are allowed to talk to him from the upcoming January transfer window.
Knowing the situation around their star defender, Liverpool have made a couple of contract extension offers, but both of them have been potentially rejected by Konate.
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The Reds have been forced to make a move for Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi as a replacement for Konate if he decides to move on next summer.
However, their pursuit of Guehi has cooled down due to the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre in a car accident at the start of July.
What did Markus Babbel suggest to Konate about his future?
Former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel has urged the Frenchman to continue at Liverpool, labelling the Reds as the ‘best team in the world.’
“Ibrahima Konate should stay at Liverpool. Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world, but I’m not sure you can enjoy playing there because of the pressure and expectation on your shoulders,” Babbel told Gameshub.
“Liverpool is a huge football club and are one big family; everyone looks after each other. You can still earn the best money playing for Liverpool and you’re playing in the best league in the world. What more could you want?
“As far as competing to be the best, Liverpool play a great style of football as well. I saw a similar style to Liverpool while watching Paris Saint-Germain against Madrid in the Club World Cup semi-final; PSG dominated the game! If you join Real, you might be going to the best club in the world, but they are definitely not the best team, and I can’t see them becoming the best team in the next couple of years.
“If I was in Konate’s position, I’d ask myself why I’d want to leave the best club in the world?”
Konate moved to Anfield in 2021 from RB Leipzig after Liverpool triggered his £36m release clause.
He has suffered several injuries and struggled for form until the 2024/25 season, where he was sublime and featured in 42 matches, the most since he joined the Reds.
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