Real Madrid News
Real Madrid target closing in on Liverpool contract extension – Romano
At the end of last year, Real Madrid were increasingly keen on the services of Ibrahima Konate.
The former Leipzig defender was facing an uncertain future at Liverpool, with his contract at Anfield expiring at the end of the season, making him a potential free agent.
Real Madrid, in search of fresh reinforcements in central defence, were considering making a Bosman move for the Frenchman.
Konate closing in on Liverpool renewal
According to Fabrizio Romano, Konate is now set to prolong his stay at Liverpool, with the defender closing in on a contract extension at Anfield.
The two parties are currently closing in on an agreement that would see the defender commit his long-term future to Merseyside.
Romano adds that Real Madrid were indeed one of the interested parties in the race to sign the Frenchman at the end of last year.
However, after failing to find an agreement with the centre-back, Liverpool stopped negotiations in November, with some believing that the player used Los Blancos to secure a better deal at Liverpool.
Nevertheless, Konate’s contract extension could leave Real Madrid with one less option in the summer transfer window.
Formerly of RB Leipzig and Sochaux, Konate could have brought some invaluable experience to the table for Real Madrid, having featured in a combined total of more than 250 matches across Germany and England.
Real Madrid, though, have no dearth of options in the market. The Spanish giants have been notably linked with a move for Nico Schlotterbeck, too, though the German also looks set to renew his contract at Borussia Dortmund.
But on a positive note, Schlotterbeck is likely to have a special release clause that would allow clubs like Real Madrid to snap him up on a cut-price deal next summer.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
