Ibrahima Conate joked that he had received certain calls from Killian Mbappe, who encouraged him to join Real Madrid amid ongoing speculation about Liverpool’s future. Conate found himself in the final year of his existing contract at Anfield, and discussions on the new terms have yet to be concluded.
The standoff in negotiations increased the frequency of reports from Spain that consistently linked Real Madrid to Conate’s potential free agent moves at the end of the season. Konate is currently alongside Real Madrid striker Mbappe, a French team preparing for the World Cup qualifier against Iceland on Tuesday.
When asked about whether Mbappe is pressured to switch to the Bernabeu during a quick fire Q&A session at French television station TF1, Konate said, “He calls me every two hours! No, no, no.”
Liverpool allowed Jarrel Kuansa to depart for Bayer Lebakusen on a £35 million contract over the summer, but they strengthened their centre Halfranck by securing 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni from Palma for £26 million.
They also reached a £35 million contract for Crystal Palace skipper Mark Guech, but their transfers fell when the palace failed to secure a replacement by the deadline last Monday.
Liverpool is currently unlikely to pursue Mark Guech during the January window. Mbappe is discussing the fierce competition for the Premier League title this season, with Liverpool dominating last season, finishing 10 points ahead of Arsenal.
In an interview with Bild, Mbappe said:
“But I have high hopes for Arsenal too, because the core of the team has known each other for a long time, and that’s a key factor in football. And Manchester City is always at the forefront anyway, with Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland.”
When asked for a definitive answer, Mbappe replied: “It’s difficult. Maybe Arsenal, maybe that’s their year. It’s certainly easy to say the city or Liverpool.”
