Real Madrid have reached a full agreement with Ibrahima Konaté and are preparing to pay the €50 million that Liverpool are demanding for his transfer.

Real Madrid reach agreement with Konate, offer Liverpool 50 million euros

The French center-back will be the next reinforcement for the “blancos” team in this summer transfer window, in an operation that is expected to be completed in the coming days.

Adding a defender was one of the priorities set by Xabi Alonso after the heavy elimination in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup against PSG, where defensive errors revealed the team’s weaknesses.

The defeat to the Parisians highlighted several players, including Antonio Rüdiger and youngster Raúl Asencio, whose mistakes in the opening minutes conditioned the entire match. That defeat raised alarm bells at Valdebebas and prompted the Basque coach to look for a reliable defender with experience in high-demand situations. Konaté, a France international and regular starter for Liverpool, possesses the qualities that Alonso considers essential to compete at the highest level.

The 26-year-old has made it clear that he wants to wear the white shirt and is not considering any other options at the moment. His refusal to renew his contract with Liverpool has facilitated his departure, and the English club, under market pressure, has decided to accept the amount offered by Real Madrid. The player’s willingness to change clubs has been decisive in accelerating the deal.

Konaté will bring solidity, speed and leadership to the defence – elements that are needed in a team that needs quality to face a challenging season. The arrival of the former Leipzig player also allows Xabi Alonso to maintain his preference for a three-man centre-back formation, a solution he has used in crucial matches. With this move, Madrid strengthens a fragile area and sends a clear message: the aim is to compete for everything.