For both Parisian leaders and the White House, the opportunity is too good to miss. According to Foot Mercato , the player has already been offered to several European giants, including PSG, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona. This move suggests that his entourage is actively preparing for a departure. And when you consider that major clubs are always on the lookout for reliable central defenders, the situation is taking on the appearance of a hot soap opera.
Real Madrid, in fact, is pushing hard. According to Marca , the club has identified two priority targets to strengthen its defensive line: William Saliba and Ibrahima Konaté. But with Saliba’s contract with Arsenal until 2027, the Konaté option seems much more accessible. Better still, the Spanish media outlet claims that negotiations are already well advanced and that his arrival in Madrid next summer is a very credible hypothesis.
In Paris, the situation is being watched with extreme vigilance. Luis Campos and Nasser Al-Khelaïfi know that PSG’s defense still lacks an experienced player capable of guiding the youthful players embodied by Lucas Beraldo and Illia Zabarnyi. Konaté, 25, a U20 World Cup winner with France and a Champions League finalist in 2022, ticks all the boxes. Especially since a return home to a club that dreams of lifting the Champions League could attract a player eager to reach the next level.
But competition from Madrid isn’t the only obstacle. Barcelona is also interested in him, even though the Blaugrana’s finances seem too limited to carry out such an operation. Liverpool, however, have not yet said their last word. The Reds, aware of Konaté’s importance to their defensive system, still hope to convince him to extend his contract. Jürgen Klopp, and now Arne Slot, have always counted on him as a pillar of the rearguard. However, the player seems hesitant to sign up for the long term.
Why this refusal to extend? The reasons are multiple. First, the prospect of joining a more stable club, with stronger European ambitions. Second, the desire to discover a new experience after four seasons in the Premier League. Finally, the temptation of prestige: wearing the Real Madrid or PSG jersey is a dream for any top-level French player.
Timing, however, is against Liverpool. Starting in January, Konaté will be free to negotiate with any club and sign a pre-contract. In other words, the Reds risk losing him for free next summer, unless they sell him this winter. A delicate situation that could force the management to make a decisive decision to avoid seeing one of their assets leave without any compensation.
For PSG, this deal could become a landmark. Bringing Konaté back to the Parc des Princes would be a masterstroke, proving the club can compete with Real Madrid in acquiring established talent. For Real, it would be a sure way to secure the future of their defense, already weakened by David Alaba’s recurring injuries and Antonio Rüdiger’s advanced age.
Ultimately, Konaté’s future crystallizes all the tensions of an increasingly competitive transfer market. Liverpool wants to keep him, Madrid already seems to be putting forward its arguments, Paris dreams of repatriating him, and Barcelona remains on the lookout. A true game of chess where every move will be decisive.
One thing is certain: the Ibrahima Konaté saga is only just beginning. And by the summer of 2026, the French defender could well become one of the major players in the European transfer window.
