Kylian Mbappe sends chilling reminder to Liverpool as another star says goodbye

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French defender Ibrahima Konate will leave Liverpool as a free agent at the end of this month, joining up with international teammate Kylian Mbappe at Real MadridKylian Mbappe has given his thoughts on Ibrahima Konate joining Real Madrid this summer(Image: Getty Images)Real Madrid and France star Kylian Mbappe has outlined the attributes he "loves" about Ibrahima Konate, as the defender looks set to join Los Blancos as a free agent from Liverpool.The center-back was unable to agree on a contract extension with the Reds, after months of discussions, despite the talks seemingly moving in the right direction just a few months ago. Konate had claimed that an extension was on the way back in April, but fast forward to June, and both the player and the club have announced a parting of the ways.Having previously been linked with a move for the 27-year-old, Real Madrid has swooped and agreed a deal to sign him as a free agent for new manager Jose Mourinho's squad rebuild at the Bernabeu.That will see Konate unite with his France teammate Mbappe, with the duo playing alongside each other 23 times on the international stage, and against each other three times on the club stage.It means the Real Madrid star knows exactly what to expect from the signing, and has given his seal of approval to the transfer going through this summer.Mbappe told L'Equipe, via MD: "He’s a very aggressive defender, in the best sense of the word."Never a bad gesture, he is hard with the marking, he wants his opponent to feel that he is going to have a hard night.Ibrahima Konate will join Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool this summer(Image: (Photo by Anthony Bibard/FEP/Icon Sport via Getty Images))"I love defenders like him in my team, with grit, who are tactically flexible, because they are capable of going after their marker as well as holding on in one-on-ones, winning duels and being tactically disciplined.”It shows exactly what Liverpool is missing out on by losing Konate as a free agent this summer, even if there wasn't the consistency in some of his performances over the course of the previous season.Both parties will have to move on in their own ways, and while the defender has seemingly sorted out his future, the Reds will have their own decisions to make in the coming weeks of the transfer window.The arrival of Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes will soften the blow of Konate's exit, while Giovanni Leoni's return from injury will also bolster the center-back options available to Andoni Iraola heading into the next season.There may be long-term concerns over the position, particularly for next summer, as Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are both entering the final year of their contracts at Anfield.It means a move could be on the cards, depending on the circumstances, with personal terms already agreed with Jarell Quansah for a return, should Liverpool trigger the buy-back clause in his deal at Bayer Leverkusen — worth roughly $74 million.It remains to be seen whether the Merseyside outfit will make a move for a defender, but the current priority appears to be for a winger instead.