Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation is causing trouble for Liverpool. The France defender is out of contract in 2026 and right now it’s not likely that he signs a new deal.

The latest reports indicate that Konate, 26, has REJECTED the club’s attempts to tie him down to a new deal. It means that sporting director Richard Hughes will soon have a decision to make over the centre-back.

Either Liverpool LOSE Konate for nothing when his contract expires or else they sell him this summer when they can still earn some money back.

Konate cost £35m from RB Leipzig back in 2021 and it’s fair to say it’s taken him a while to become Virgil van Dijk’s preferred centre-back partner.

Real Madrid ready to sell Rodrygo

But now the player is said to have Real Madrid in his sights – potentially following the template set by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

If Madrid are to be Konate’s preferred destination then Liverpool may well have the opportunity to bring a transfer target of their own into play. Rodrygo, 24, has been mentioned in recent reports as a potential player that Liverpool would be interested in signing.

They would face competition from both Arsenal and Manchester City for the Brazilian – who is keen on a move to the Emirates if he does end up leaving Madrid this summer.

It’s been suggested in a report in Spain however that Madrid are ready to offer Rodrygo to Liverpool in an attempt to strike a deal for Konate.

Real Madrid to offer Rodrygo for Konate

“Real Madrid have set their sights on Konaté and want to try to sign him this transfer window following the poor performances of Asencio and Rüdiger at the Club World Cup,” a report in Sport reads.

“With the Brazilian in the mix, they could use him as a bargaining chip to land the center-back, who has one year left on his contract.”

Liverpool have had their eyes on Rodrygo for a long time now – losing out on the two-time Champions League winner back in 2019 when he chose Real instead.

No Rodrygo deal until Diaz is sold

Rodrygo now looks certain to be squeezed out of the club following Xabi Alonso’s arrival. The new coach will have to satisfy Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Arda Guler, Endrick and new striking sensation Gonzalo Garcia.

All that competition means Rodrygo could be sacrificed.

Under contract until 2029, Madrid are expected to seek €100m for the Brazil international. But adding Konate to the mix could bring down the cost significantly.