Liverpool finalizing Konate deal

Liverpool are finalizing a deal to sign Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic.

The Merseysiders are currently going through a heavy injury crisis in the centre-back department, with their plan to go through the season with three designated players for the position and midfielder Fabinho as the last option backfiring spectacularly. Virgil van Dijk was the first to pick up a season-ending injury as a reckless tackle by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford back in October, followed closely by a similar problem for Joe Gomez in England training. Joel Matip is also ruled out, as is captain Jordan Henderson who, like Fabinho, slotted in occasionally.

Liverpool signed Ozan Kabak on loan from Schalke 04 on the final day of the January window, along with Ben Davies from Preston North End who is yet to make his debut for the club.

The talks for Konate are said to be in an advanced stage, but Liverpool will probably have to pay the 21-year-old’s release clause reportedly amounting to around €40 million, with Leipzig in no rush to sell.