Why the Free-Transfer Drama Could Redefine Europe’s Backlines: Konaté, Madrid and the Summer Tug-of-Wars
15 November 2025
What if Konaté moves to Real Madrid on a free transfer?
The French centre-back Ibrahima Konaté is at the centre of a heated European transfer tug-of-war as his Liverpool contract nears its expiry. With his deal due to run out on June 30, no renewed agreement has been reached, sparking a blaze of speculation about his future.
Asked the day before Azerbaijan vs France in Baku about a possible exit from Liverpool and a move to Madrid, Konaté acknowledged the chatter but pointed to negotiations with his club and said a decision would come soon.
His form this season has been inconsistent, and he drew criticism after Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, a game in which he was involved in a penalty Haaland subsequently missed before the Norwegian opened the scoring.
Against Ukraine, the French manager Didier Deschamps did not start Konaté, though he could line up in a controlled return to action in a match that carries less weight given France's qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Not the only option for Real Madrid. Upamecano of Bayern Munich is also on their radar, with Madrid reportedly eyeing a free move if Konaté's situation stalls. Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has long admired the French defender as a long-term answer for the back line.
Upamecano's contract ends soon as well, but negotiations with Bayern have hit a snag due to high salary demands and a renewal bonus reportedly around 17 million euros, complicating a potential switch on a free.
Financial tensions at Bayern have been echoed by comments from sporting director Max Eberl who hinted he would like to keep Upamecano but would not break the club's financial rules for a single player, a stance echoed by other voices within the Bavarian board.
Paris Saint-Germain has joined the race, eyeing both defenders as ideal captures if they become available, and reports claimed Ousmane Dembélé has even tried to nudge the pair toward Paris in the summer window.
Liverpool are watching, too, with a German report suggesting that the club could pivot toward Upamecano if Konaté leaves, creating an indirect transfer swap dynamic between rivals.
Barcelona, meanwhile, is reported to like Konaté but cannot compete financially at the moment, allowing Real Madrid to remain the calm observer until a moment arrives to act. Madrid is said to be confident that one defender will eventually arrive at the Santiago Bernabéu to refresh the squad—especially as Madrid has shown a preference for free transfers like Arnold and Mbappé, following similar deals with Rudiger and Alaba.
For Liverpool, losing Konaté for nothing would be a painful blow, especially with Gio Leoni’s ACL injury complicating their defensive depth. The squad currently has only three fit senior centre-backs—Van Dijk, Konaté, and Gomez—pushing the club to move quickly in the summer market.
With the window approaching, the battle among Real Madrid, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich is heating up, as the fate of Konaté and Upamecano could redefine Europe’s defensive landscape for years. Madrid, it seems, could again profit most from any deadlock, sealing a free acquisition that costs nothing but time and patience.
And yes, between you and me, if Konaté ends up at Madrid on a free, the jokes will be flying faster than a counter-attack—as light as his clearance and as sharp as his headers. Punchlines aside, watch this space; the summer of 2025 could rewrite who anchors the backlines of Europe.
Punchline 2: If Konaté lands at Madrid for free, the only thing cheaper will be the coffee he buys at the Bernabéu after every clean sheet.
