Konaté, 26, has yet to agree fresh terms at Anfield and will be free to negotiate with overseas clubs in January. The defender has attracted strong interest from Real Madrid, but reports in Germany suggest Bayern have now contacted his representatives about a potential move back to the Bundesliga.

The French international previously played for RB Leipzig before joining Liverpool in 2021 for £36 million. His commanding performances made him a regular partner to Virgil van Dijk, but recent injuries and inconsistency have led to speculation about his long-term future under Arne Slot.

According to Bild, Bayern’s level of pursuit could depend on Dayot Upamecano’s situation. The Bavarian club risks losing their own French defender when his deal expires next summer, which could accelerate a push for Konaté if he opts to leave.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, remain in the market for defensive reinforcements despite already boasting Eder Militao, Antonio Rüdiger, and David Alaba. Los Blancos have shown a willingness to strike free-agent deals in recent seasons, with both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kylian Mbappé moving to the Bernabéu on similar terms.

Liverpool has so far been unable to tie down Konaté despite securing extensions for key players last season, including Mohamed Salah and Van Dijk. His uncertain future adds to growing questions over the club’s defensive depth as they look to rebuild under Slot.

The Liverpool boss defended Konaté after criticism of his recent form, insisting that the centre-half’s focus remains professional. “When you lose a game, people look for mistakes,” Slot said. “He’s made a few, but so have others. It’s part of the process when the team is finding consistency.”

Konaté has made 147 appearances for the Reds in all competitions and remains one of Europe’s most highly rated defenders. However, unless an agreement is reached soon, Liverpool could risk losing another first-team player for free next summer.