By Daily sports on May 27, 2021
Liverpool have agreed to sign Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig on a five-year contract, sources have told ESPN.
The defender passed his medical a few weeks ago and will complete a move to Anfield once he returns from competing at the Under-21 European Championship with France this summer.
Liverpool secured Champions League participation on the final day of the Premier League season which means they can now activate the €41.5 million release clause in the former Sochaux player's contract. The club will have to pay the release clause in one installment.
Konate, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Tuesday, was identified a long time ago when he was still in France by the Liverpool scouting department who then followed his progress.
Despite a hip injury which kept him out for a few months last season, the Parisian showed great potential.
He is tall and strong with great pace and has improved a lot with the ball and his tactical awareness while working with Julian Nagelsmann at Leipzig. Jurgen Klopp is a huge fan and wants him to partner Virgil van Dijk next season.
Liverpool experienced an injury crisis in defence last season with Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip missing a large part of the campaign.
Konate’s arrival means that Ozan Kabak will not stay at the club, sources have told ESPN. Liverpool won't trigger the option to make his loan from Schalke permanent but he could join Leipzig to replace Konate and Dayot Upamecano who signed for Bayern Munich.
The future of Nathaniel Phillips, who is under contract until June 2023, will have to be decided but it is doubtful that he would want to pushed down the pecking order once Van Dijk, Gomez and Matip are back from injury and the Konate deal is completed.
Sources have also told ESPN that Liverpool are willing to listen to offers for Phillips this summer while Rhys Williams could leave on loan. (ESPN)
•PHOTO: Ibrahima Konate
Source Daily sports
Posted May 27, 2021
You may also like...
Mendy Confirms Family Member Tested Negative For Coronavirus...
Female Yellow Greens set for W’Cup qualifiers
Shearer lauds Anichebe’s ferocious strike
Mancini is new Italy head coach after World...
Andy Murray Given Australian Open Wildcard
Akeredolu assures Sunshine Stars over entitlements
Newcastle cruise 9-3 into UCL last 16, Leverkusen dump out Olympiacos
Finidi wary of difficult Barau test
Pillars coach optimistic of NPFL survival
Cricket: NCF sets date for 2026 Women’s T20i
Unbeaten Oshoba keen to extend dominant UK run
Family supports Joshua’s return despite fears — Uncle
Tennis triggers buzz at 2nd Niger Delta Games
Gala fans to honour Osimhen’s late mother
Eagles to play Iran, Jordan in four-nation tourney
First Falcons call-up thrills Erhabor
Ekezie junior claims Defensive MVP award at All-Star camp
Niger-Delta Games: Sports, instrument of unity, empowerment — Tinubu
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,577 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,884 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,792 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,428 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,341 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,259 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,131 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,678 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,849 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,377 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,765 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,233 views)