Real Madrid ‘eye move for ANOTHER Liverpool defender’ – amid persistent links with Trent Alexander-Arnold

Real Madrid are believed to be keeping tabs on another Liverpool defender amid their persistent interest in Reds star Trent Alexander-Arnold, according to reports. 

Los Blancos made a significant move for the academy graduate when they tabled a £20million offer for him in January, just six months before his contract is set to expire. 

Liverpool turned down the offer, but have not made public progress with tempting the 26-year-old into signing a new deal. 

Arne Slot has repeatedly fielded questions about Alexander-Arnold’s future at Anfield – which has grown no clearer since the end of the January window – with the manger forced to stress that contract uncertainty at the club had not impacted the internal dynamics of his side. 

Alexander-Arnold, like fellow out-of-contract stars Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, is now free to discuss pre-contractual agreements with foreign clubs with the months ticking down on their current deals. 

But Slot could yet have to fend off admirers for another star whose long-term plans remain undecided. 

The defender has been in impressive form for the Reds when fit and firing, scoring his first Premier League goal in September

Los Blancos have previously made a major move for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will be out of contract at the end of the season

As per Le Parisien, Ibrahima Konate is waiting until the end of the Reds’ current campaign to decide on signing a new deal. 

The France international’s current contract keeps him in Liverpool until the end of next season, and Konate has also been offered a deal to extend him time at the club. 

But the 25-year-old is apparently undecided on his club’s offer, and could instead be courted by the Spanish club. 

Real Madrid are believed to be keen to wait until the summer to confirm any concrete interest in the player, but the news speaks to manager Carlo Ancelotti’s desire to reshape his backline in the upcoming transfer window. 

Konate, who has been at Liverpool since 2021, has been a standout when available as part of Slot’s title-chasing side this season, making 22 Premier League appearances under the Dutch manager. 

The defender saw his minutes managed at the start of the year upon his return from a knee injury which him kept him out in December, but Slot has been keen to praise his player, particularly in one aspect of his game’s improvement. 

‘I think one of the things he could improve, in my opinion at least, is his play with the ball, bringing the ball out from the back,’ Slot said in late January. ‘I would not say he was poor in that but he could improve (and) he could go to another level. 

‘I think he works really hard to improve that and I already see this improvement.