According to Standard, as cited by BBC Sport, Arsenal are among clubs interested in Ibrahima Konate. Following the departure of Dayot Upamecano to Bayern Munich, the Gunners, it seems, have set their sights on his defensive partner at RB Leipzig. However, they are likely to face stiff competition in the pursuit of Konate, who is courted by a host of top clubs across Europe.
Ibrahima Konate’s Success & Struggles At Leipzig
Ibrahima Konate became an overnight sensation in the Bundesliga when he made his breakthrough during the 2018/19 campaign. His imposing figure at the back, combined with his composure on the ball and burst of pace made him a solid defensive asset for RB Leipzig.
The Frenchman’s defensive partnership alongside his compatriot Dayot Upamecano even helped Die Roten Bullen to emerge as one of the best defensive sides in Europe, especially under the leadership of Julian Nagelsmann.
Along with Konate’s successes in the Bundesliga, there has been a fair share of disappointments as well, mainly the ones pertaining to his fitness problems. Indeed, the 21-year-old is yet to feature in over ten matches per season since his breakthrough campaign in 2018/19.
A horrific torn muscle fibre kept him out on the sidelines for the majority of last season while the Frenchman has struggled with an ankle problem in the ongoing campaign. It has restricted him to just eight appearances in the Bundesliga so far.
Why Konate Is A Risky Option For Arsenal?
It is needless to argue that Konate’s poor injury record could be a major issue for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta has already had to deal with multiple injury-related problems for his defenders this season, with the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes, Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers missing a chunk of the season due to their respective fitness problems.
Konate’s injury-prone nature, in that regard, clearly doesn’t help as Arsenal currently need a stable defensive presence at the heart of the backline. It is also a reason why the RB Leipzig defender hasn’t garnered as much attention as Upamecano, even though both the players are equally young and talented.
It leads to another issue Arsenal could face in the pursuit of Konate. With Leipzig having already lost Upamecano to Bayern, it remains unlikely that they would want to part ways with another key defender in the same window, especially if they do end winning the Bundesliga this term.
Even in the event of the Frenchman’s potential departure, he is likely to cost a fortune – a risk isn’t work taking, as far as Arsenal are concerned due to the current financial climate. The Gunners, though, should certainly shift their attention towards other alternatives, with Joachim Andersen, for one, making quite a mark in the Premier League.
