Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate has been given a clear indication of what the next step in his career might be, as contract talks with the Premier League champions are currently yet to be resolved.
Just like his side, the Frenchman has had a start to the season that feels below his usual high standards, as Arne Slot's squad find themselves 12th in the Premier League, which is the lowest position the club have been under the Dutchman.
Konate's recent run of form has been a cause for concern throughout the Liverpool fanbase, with many believing that his below-par performances are due to the unsettling situation with his contract, similar to that of Trent Alexander-Arnold last season.
However, after a humiliating 4-1 defeat to PSV at Anfield in midweek, clubs potentially looking at taking the 26-year-old on a pre-contract deal may have changed their minds, with Konate having less than a year left on his current deal at Liverpool.
🚨 Real Madrid considered Ibrahima Konate but inform Liverpool they have no interest in signing France int’l. 26yo’s unresolved #LFC contract situation could still go either way. That + loads more on Jan/summer markets in @TheAthleticFC Transfer Radar 2026 https://t.co/hD7lYaxpJt
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) November 28, 2025
Real Madrid are one of the clubs that have been long admirers of the Reds' 6 ft 5 centre-back, however, according to reports, the European giants have stepped away from a potential deal, preventing Konate's move to the Spanish capital.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, a contract renewal at Liverpool is still possible, with the Anfield hierarchy already offering the Frenchman new deal, which has yet to be accepted.
Is it possible that the offer put on the table by the board is withdrawn, as Konate's performances continue to dip from the form that helped Slot's side win the clubs' 20th league title last season?
The 26-year-old has been substituted in both of his last two matches, including the heavy losses to Nottingham Forest and PSV.
However, Konate has acknowledged his current form, with a message to fans via his different social media accounts.
— Ibrahima Konate (@IbrahimaKonate_) November 27, 2025
With the manager's job in severe jeopardy, Slot will be looking for a response from his players, including his centre-backs, as the Reds face a trip to the London Stadium to play West Ham, before welcoming Sunderland to Anfield.
Konate has two main options left in deciding the next step in his career, seeing as a move to Los Blancos appears to be off the table.
Either he signs a new deal at Liverpool, or moves elsewhere on a free. The Frenchman's future is certainly in the balance.
