Real Madrid News
Liverpool table contract offer to Real Madrid target, waiting for a response – Romano
Real Madrid will sign a new central defender in the summer of 2026, with David Alaba expected to move on at the end of the season when his contract expires.
Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool, to that end, has emerged as a potential target for the Spanish capital giants, as his contract at Anfield runs out in the summer as well.
However, the Premier League champions are not giving up on their efforts to convince the French defender to continue in Merseyside.
Liverpool offer Konate a new contract
Indeed, according to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool have tabled a contract offer for Konate and are waiting for a response from the defender and his camp.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid and several other big clubs remain attentive to his situation, watching every development with a keen eye.
The ball, now, firmly lies in Konate’s court and it is up to him to decide whether he opts to continue at Anfield or opts for a new challenge in his career.
Konate has been at Liverpool since 2021, having arrived from RB Leipzig, and has grown into a key figure in the team.
While there have been some off-colour displays this season, the 26-year-old remains a mainstay in Arne Slot’s plans. As such, it is not surprising to see Liverpool make an effort to retain his services.
“My future? My agents continue to negotiate with Liverpool. I hope that my decision is made very soon so that I can announce it,” Konate recently said about his future.
With a contract offer from the Reds and interest from clubs like Real Madrid on his table, it will be interesting to see what Konate chooses for his future.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. admits finishing problem after another frustrating night vs Elche: ‘Can’t miss that much’
Vinicius Jr.’s difficult start in front of goal continued against Elche, and the Real Madrid forward did not need anyone to tell him he had missed another chance to make the difference.
The Brazilian finished the night without a goal despite having chances to get on the scoresheet, while his teammates could only watch from the bench as opportunities went begging.
Jose Mourinho had already identified the problem before kick-off, bluntly pointing to the issue facing his forward, stating, “He’s missing the goal.”
Vini offered an equally frank assessment afterwards.
Rather than hide from another frustrating evening, he accepted responsibility on social media: “The goals will come back; I can’t miss that much…”
Two chances, no finish for Vinicius
Vinicius had two particularly clear openings against Elche, but neither produced the finish Real Madrid needed from their star forward.
The first arrived when he found himself one-on-one with the opposition goalkeeper.
Instead of finding the net, Vinicius caught the ball with the tip of his foot and sent his effort wide. Arda Guler was available during the move and called for the ball, but Vini backed himself to finish the chance.
He had another opportunity after the interval, this time following an excellent pass from Guler during a quick Real Madrid transition. Again, though, Vinicius could not find the target.
His evening ended in the 68th minute, with Mourinho deciding the Brazilian was tired and turning his attention towards Sunday’s Atletico Madrid derby.
Mourinho has a bigger decision to make
The numbers show why Vinicius’ finishing has become a talking point. He managed five shots against Elche, but only one was on target and none found the net.
After seven appearances this season, the Brazilian has scored just once, which is a striking return for a player Real Madrid rely upon to provide a major share of their attacking threat.
Ultimately, though, Real Madrid found another route to victory, with Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe and Carlos Espi providing the goals in the 3-2 comeback.
