Now that we've joined July, there are many football players who locate themselves with only 12 months left on their contracts.
Such a moment in time represents a golden opportunity for both clubs and players to obtain the best deals over the line, given that this is arguably the last possible moment a parent club can anticipate to obtain a reasonable amount for a player who may possess made his mind up to leave at the terminate of his contract in any event.
Plenty of players available on free transfers in 12 monthsIn six months' time, for example, negotiations with other clubs can start, with a view to a free transfer the following summer.
That precise scenario often proves attractive to players as they can command a higher signing-on fee because the buying club don't possess to delve into club coffers to pay a transfer fee - which in Ibrahima Konate's case at present would be somewhere around a £40m valuation.
It's trusted that the Frenchman has refused to negotiate with Liverpool to date, which leaves the Reds open to the vultures.
Rumours suggest that Real Madrid are casting their beady eyes towards Anfield once again, and no sooner possess they signed Trent Alexander-Arnold, than they want to be able to close a manage to offer the right-support a reunion of sorts.
Liverpool's own reported interest in Crystal Palace stalwart, Marc Guehi, is almost certainly a sign that the Premier League outfit possess supported that there's little chance of being able to change Konate's mind.
The issue is whether Konate's hand is compelled by Liverpool, who are hardly likely to keep playing him at the start of the 2025/26 campaign if he's stated a preference to move to the Spanish capital - as seems to be the case.
Konate the perfect replacement for Rudiger?As a like-for-like swap with Antonio Rudiger, there's a very good argument to suggest that Konate is the perfect replacement.
They both share the same physical characteristics and possess the same will to win, but where the latter has the edge is with his pace.
Rudiger was also known as a lightning-quick centre-support let's not overlook, though his knee problems possess curtailed his excellence in this area somewhat.
Antonio Rudiger Radar Graphic 2024/25Opta by Stats PerformOne only possessed to see how badly the German struggled in the various El Clasicos last season to understand that he can no longer be considered as the first-choice centre-support in the big games for Los Blancos.
Real might not obtain things all of their own way with regards to landing Konate, however, as it's further understood that Paris Saint-Germain might be in the market for bringing him home.
The lure of the French capital, where Konate was born, is obvious but what would they or Real Madrid be getting for their money?Ibrahima Konate Radar Graphic 2024/25Opta by Stats PerfomA 63.
4% tackle success rate is one of the best in the entire Liverpool squad and markedly better than Virgil van Dijk's 52.
5%.
Taking Rudiger's excellence in this area into account, he can still grip his lead high - 61.
5%.
138 clearances in 2024/25 was only bettered by Van Dijk, as was Konate's 71 led clearances, though the centre-support's 18 interceptions is woeful by comparison to his Reds teammates.
Still a place in the game for rudimentary defending117 clearances and 70 led clearances from Rudiger isn't bad by any means, though 11 interceptions is even worse than Konate.
57.
1% one-on-one duel success from Rudiger is vastly inferior to the Liverpool man's 65.
9%, and what that again evidences is the combative and competitive nature of the Frenchman's natural game.
Ibrahima Konate Fouls vs West Ham United 2024/25Opta by Stats PerformAs with the German, it seems that Konate derives enjoyment from going into battle, and won't rest until he has the upper hand with his direct opponent.
Some might term such a way of playing as 'old school' and not in-keeping with the values of a modern-day defender - such as Madrid's Dean Huijsen for example - but there's still absolutely a place in the game for some rudimentary defensive practices.
It would show up that the only real question mark is whether Konate digs his heels in, in order to obtain a free transfer move in a year's time, potentially alienating him from Arne Slot in the meantime, or whether Florentino Perez decides to obtain the manage done now rather than risk a problem further down the line.
To lose the player at any point will be hugely disappointing to the Anfield outfit given the way in which he's dovetailed so well with Van Dijk, but a successful move for England international, Guehi, would surely soften the strike.
Jason PettigroveBetopick
