Real Madrid News
Real Madrid target gives club hope by stalling renewal talks with Premier League giants
In what could turn out to be a major boost for Real Madrid, key 2026 target Ibrahima Konate is unhappy with Liverpool’s latest contract offer, according to recent reports from The Guardian.
The French defender has rejected the club’s first renewal proposal and is now stalling negotiations, opening the door for top European sides to make their move.
Konate, 26, enters the final year of his current deal next month, and while Liverpool are keen to keep him, their first offer appears to have fallen short.
The centre-back is said to be disappointed with the structure of the proposed terms, which rely heavily on performance-related bonuses rather than a solid base salary.
His representatives are understood to be pushing for a higher fixed wage, believing his role in the team justifies more guaranteed money.
Liverpool facing another free exit risk
This situation has alarmed Liverpool, especially in the wake of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s recent move to Real Madrid.
The English full-back departed on a cut-price €10 million fee, simply because the Spanish giants were eager to register him in time for the FIFA Club World Cup.
That deal was seen as a major financial miss for the Merseyside club, who fear a repeat scenario with Konate.
Should Liverpool fail to reach an agreement this summer, they would be left with a tricky decision: sell now for a reduced price or risk losing him for free.
However, the Premier League side remain reluctant to meet Konate’s wage demands, and plan to reopen discussions later this summer, rather than giving in now.
From Real Madrid’s perspective, this is a market opportunity too good to ignore. The Spanish champions are closely tracking Konate’s situation and, like they did with Alexander-Arnold, are prepared to play the long game.
Madrid see Konate as a perfect long-term addition to their backline and are willing to wait. For now, no formal approach has been made, but it is clear that the wheels are turning quietly behind the scenes.
One of the main objectives for Real Madrid this summer was to bring in a new central midfielder capable of controlling the tempo and dictating the play from the middle.
A move for Rodri was in the works before the Spain captain decided to sign for FC Barcelona. The Merengues assessed several other options, but ended up not signing any player, with Jose Mourinho deciding to use Bernardo Silva in the double pivot.
One of the midfielders that Real Madrid were looking at as an option was Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace.
The England international has been on the club’s radar for a while now, but the Premier League club never opened the door for a summer departure.
Wharton could be on the market in 2027
However, now, according to The Guardian (h/t Bernabeu Digital), That stance could change next year, as that Palace would be prepared to consider selling Wharton during the next summer transfer window.
As mentioned already, Real Madrid have closely followed Wharton’s situation throughout the summer, although the club ultimately decided against making any further additions to their midfield.
Manchester City and Chelsea also showed serious interest in signing the England international during the summer. However, Crystal Palace were unwilling to sell, effectively ruling out a move for the midfielder.
But it appears that they could open the doors for Wharton to leave in the summer of 2027, potentially paving the way for Real Madrid to make a move.
Real Madrid continue to monitor Wharton
Real Madrid are expected to keep a close eye on Wharton’s progress ahead of the 2027 market. Should they decide they need another high-quality midfielder, the 22-year-old could once again emerge as a candidate.
Manchester City may be less likely to return for Wharton after strengthening their midfield significantly this summer.
Chelsea, however, could remain a potential competitor after failing to add a player in the position during the latest window.
For now, Wharton will remain at Crystal Palace, but the club’s willingness to consider a sale next summer means the midfielder could become a realistic option for Real Madrid in 2027.
