Real Madrid could be closing in on their first signing of 2026, with reports linking Liverpool defender **Ibrahima Konaté** to the Santiago Bernabéu. The Frenchman’s contract at Anfield runs out next summer, and Madrid are ready to strike.
### Liverpool’s Defense in Transition
Liverpool are already planning for life after Konaté. They’re in talks with **Marc Guéhi** from Crystal Palace and **Giovanni Leoni**, a teenage talent from Parma. With Jarell Quansah sold and Virgil van Dijk entering the final years of his career, a reshuffle at the back is underway.
Konaté, who joined from RB Leipzig in 2021, has been a strong presence when fit, but injuries and competition have made his role less certain.
### Madrid’s Free Transfer Tactic
For Real Madrid, signing Konaté on a free makes perfect sense. They’ve mastered this strategy, recently adding **Antonio Rüdiger**, **Kylian Mbappé**, and **Trent Alexander-Arnold** without paying transfer fees. With **Alaba aging** and **Militão recovering**, Konaté would bring both depth and quality to their defense.
### The French Connection
Konaté would also join a growing French core at Madrid — **Camavinga, Tchouaméni, and Mbappé**. Following in the footsteps of **Varane** and **Zidane**, he’d have the chance to play a major role for both club and country.
### What It Means for Liverpool
For Liverpool fans, losing Konaté for free would sting, especially after Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Madrid. He was seen as the long-term partner to Van Dijk, and letting him walk without a transfer fee would raise big questions about the club’s planning.
### The Road Ahead
No deal has been finalized yet, but speculation is strong. If it happens, Konaté could be **Real Madrid’s first big move of 2026** — and another reminder of Los Blancos’ dominance in the transfer market.
