Ibrahima Konaté returns to Real Madrid's radar and sets off the alarm: Rüdiger fears for his place

Real Madrid is once again looking at the market with a very clear idea: to strengthen the heart of the defense without compromising their financial stability. In that context, the name of Ibrahima Konaté has forcefully returned to the Valdebebas agenda. The French center-back, currently at Liverpool FC, will see his contract expire next June and his contractual situation is generating a great deal of interest.

At the white club they see a market opportunity that is difficult to ignore. He is a top-level defender, an international with experience at the elite level, who could arrive without a transfer fee. It is a formula that has already delivered excellent results in recent years and that is once again on the table.

A deal with clear conditions

However, Konaté's return to the Madrid radar is not automatic, and the board has been very clear about their wage policy. The signing will only move forward if the player accepts a significant reduction in his financial demands. At Real Madrid they are not willing to break the locker room's wage structure, no matter how attractive his profile may be.

The interest is not new; there were already contacts months ago, but the demands from the player's camp cooled the deal. Now, with the contract entering its final stretch and time working against Liverpool, the situation has changed. The ball is in the footballer's court.

Liverpool push, Madrid wait

At Anfield they are not giving up, Liverpool still considers Konaté a key piece and they keep hoping to persuade him to extend his contract. However, the lack of an agreement at this stage is causing concern. The center-back is already free to negotiate with other clubs and, although he has not signed any pre-contract, Madrid's interest is real and constant.

From the white technical department they particularly value his imposing physique, his speed in challenges, and his experience in the Premier League. They believe that he would fit perfectly into the defensive rotation and that he would provide an immediate boost in quality, especially in a context marked by recent injuries.

Rüdiger, the great target

Konaté's possible arrival not only affects future planning, it also shakes the present. Antonio Rüdiger is watching the situation with concern. The German knows that the incorporation of a center-back of that level directly threatens his role in the team.

With Konaté in the squad, the competition would become tougher and Rüdiger could go from being an undisputed starter to a regular on the bench. In a locker room where nobody has a guaranteed place, the arrival of the Frenchman would mean a change in hierarchies. The club's message is clear: nobody is untouchable.

Real Madrid is planning for the long term and Konaté fits that vision. If he accepts the financial sacrifice, the signing could be completed. With it, a new internal battle in the white defense would open up, one that promises to give people plenty to talk about.