'Calls me every two hours' – Ibrahima Konate cracks Real Madrid transfer joke as Kylian Mbappe encourages fellow Frenchman to follow Trent Alexander-Arnold out of Liverpool

Ibrahima Konate has jokingly claimed that Kylian Mbappe calls him frequently to convince him to follow in Trent Alexander-Arnold's footsteps and join Real Madrid next summer. Konate, who has entered the final year of his contract with Liverpool, has been linked with a move to Los Blancos as he has yet to negotiate a new deal with the Premier League champions.

  • Konate claims Mbappe is pressuring him to join Madrid
  • Reds defender linked with move to Spanish giants
  • Yet to agree new contract

'Calls me every two hours' – Ibrahima Konate cracks Real Madrid transfer joke as Kylian Mbappe encourages fellow Frenchman to follow Trent Alexander-Arnold out of Liverpool'Calls me every two hours' – Ibrahima Konate cracks Real Madrid transfer joke as Kylian Mbappe encourages fellow Frenchman to follow Trent Alexander-Arnold out of Liverpool'Calls me every two hours' – Ibrahima Konate cracks Real Madrid transfer joke as Kylian Mbappe encourages fellow Frenchman to follow Trent Alexander-Arnold out of Liverpool

Determined not to repeat the painful Trent Alexander-Arnold saga, Liverpool’s officials are scrambling to tie Konate down to new terms, but they fear he has already agreed to join Madrid. The Merseysiders have been trying to convince the international to commit his future to Anfield since the beginning of the year, as the club do not want him to leave for nothing in 2026.

Liverpool sold Jarell Quansah to for £34 million ($46m) in the summer transfer window and signed 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni from Parma for €35 million (£30m/$40m). The Reds had almost secured a move for Crystal Palace‘s Marc Guehi, but it collapsed in the final hour of deadline day.

During an interview with French TV channel TF1 Konate jokingly claimed that France captain Mbappe is putting pressure on him to switch to Madrid next year. The Reds defender said: “He calls me every two hours! No, no, no.”

Konate and Mbappe will be back in action on Tuesday as France take on in their second qualifying game. They will then return to their respective clubs ahead of the end of the break.