Ibrahima Konate to Liverpool was almost a certain news as the Reds were said to be closing in on the deal after agreeing to pay the release clause. However, in the latest turn of events, RB Leipzig sporting director, Markus Krosche said that the defender’s move is not an option.
Konate made his professional debut for the French side Sochaux. In 2017, RB Leipzig landed the talented player for just £300,000. They have got the return to their expenditure profoundly as he has been a great addition to his team.
His tall and bulky figure has been a huge bonus for him and along with that, he is also quick on his feet. The Frenchman along with Dayot Upamecano has been a wall for Leipzig. They have conceded the least goals in the league. They are currently 2nd in the Bundesliga only 4 points behind Bayern Munich.
The Reds on the other hand are struggling to rise up the table. They have succumbed to their lack of defenders, creating unnecessary records along the way. They are currently 7th in the Premier League and are 4 points behind the 4th place.
However, their run in the Champions League will be the only thing keeping them calm at the moment. They defeated RB Leipzig comfortably to progress into the quarter-finals. They will now be facing the team that denied them the opportunity to win the competition in 2018, Real Madrid.
Can Liverpool land Ibrahima Konate?
Liverpool are desperate to sign a new center-back and it is clearly visible why. Their injury crisis has lead them to 7th place. Essentially their title defense ended before it even began.
Currently, Jurgen Klopp has had to bring back his midfielders to play the role of the defenders. In January they signed Ozan Kabak on loan and Ben Davies in a desperate move to stabilize the backline. It has been a shaky start for both of them.
The addition of Ibrahima Konate can be a huge help for them, but he also has an injury history that is really troubling. During the 4 years span at Leipzig, he has managed to play only 89 games.
Moreover, his place in the squad is also not guaranteed. Van Djik will certainly regain full fitness and his counterparts will also be getting fit soon. In that case, it has to be seen who Klopp will prefer as the Dutchman’s partner.
But all these discussions will happen only if the deal goes through. Because RB Leipzig’s Sporting Manager has put a clear statement regarding the defender’s future. Upamecano is set to leave next season for Bayern Munich.
If losing one of their main players wasn’t enough. Letting go of Konate would be like carving a hole in their defence. They are having a great season and would love to continue it into the next season, and losing both Konate and Upamecano won’t help them.
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