SIGNINGS: From England they assure that Barça wants a Liverpool starter

The sports management of FC Barcelona does not seem to be completely closed to making one more incorporation to give an extra quality to the squad in this summer market 2025/26. Of course, provided that the conditions of financial fair play and entry into rule 1:1 of LaLiga allow it, with all other incorporations already duly registered.

Close sources point out that the area to be reinforced would be the defense. Although Hansi Flick's team has four good defenders, the sensitive loss of Iñigo Martínez has left a void that could force the culés to look for a reinforcement to strengthen the rear.

Barcelona would be looking to reinforce its defense with one more defender

Faced with this scenario, a name emerges from England that would supposedly be in the orbit of the Blaugrana team: the defender Ibrahima Konaté, 26 years old, currently serving Liverpool.

The English media CaughtOffside reports that, given that the French defender is in the last year of his contract with the Reds and the renewal is not clearly visible, the Blaugrana have wanted to take advantage of this situation by maintaining conversations with the player. The objective would be to explore the possibilities of completing a signing this summer.

The same source asserts that Deco, sports director of Barcelona, maintains an open line of communication with Konaté's representatives to be aware of any news. In addition, the culés would be willing to study all possible ways to close the operation if the opportunity arises.

The challenge of signing Konaté: price and competition

It will be necessary to see how the alleged interest of Barça in Ibrahima Konaté evolves. In principle, it does not seem like a simple operation, considering that the Parisian is a key piece in Arne Slot's scheme, after a 2024/25 season in which he played 42 games, scored two goals and provided two assists, only missing some games due to a knee injury that has already been overcome.

Likewise, his incorporation would not be cheap: from England a price close to 44 million pounds is speculated (about 51 M€ approximately). A considerable cost, especially if one takes into account that, if he does not renew, the Frenchman could leave the Red team next season as a free agent.

However, it will be necessary to see if Liverpool shows flexibility with Konaté's departure price, considering that the signing of the Italian central defender Giovanni Leoni, from Parma, is about to be made official, and that they are also still interested in the English defender Marc Guehi. This could generate an overbooking of defenders and modify the sales options of the French defender, who would also be in the sights of Real Madrid, another team attentive to his situation.