In a recent report, The Daily Mail has claimed that Liverpool are on the verge of completing a move for Red Bull Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate this summer. It is believed that the Reds have decided to meet the French centre-back’s £40m release clause to bring him to Anfield during the summer transfer window (via The Daily Mail).
Konate’s Up And Down Season At The Red Bull Arena
Konate has experienced a season of mixed fortunes as he has caught the eye with some solid displays, but has also missed a lot of games due to multiple injuries. The 22-year-old has scored one goal and picked up four yellow cards in 21 matches for the German club this term across multiple competitions.
The Paris-born defensive ace has proved his worth as a top performer in Europe by averaging 1.7 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 2.0 clearances and 0.7 dribbles per game in the UEFA Champions League this season. He has even distributed possession with conviction from the back after completing 81% of his attempted passes in European football (stats via whoscored).
The 12-time France Under-21 international has the potential to grow into a world-class player in his position someday, so the Reds will do well to lure him away to Anfield in this off-season. He ticks all the right boxes in terms of what Jurgen Klopp looks for in his central defenders that makes him a good option for the Merseysiders this summer.
Will Konate Be The Right Choice For Klopp?
Konate is a moderately paced centre-half who hardly gets beaten when left isolated in a 1v1 foot chase with the opposition. Standing at 1.94m, he can use his strong frame to dominate the opposition in the air and win some important headers at the back.
What makes the Frenchman such a great prospect is his ability to read the danger quickly to earn possession back for his team. He is also not shy of putting his foot through the ball to clear his lines when needed.
A centre-back of Konate’s skillset will be a decent choice for the Reds as he will add some serious competition for Joe Gomez and Joel Matip for a regular starting place alongside Virgil Van Dijk in the coming seasons. At 22, the French youngster could develop into a class act in central defence under the expert stewardship of Klopp. Plus, he will add some much-needed depth to Liverpool’s match-day squad that might help them cope with injuries and fixture congestion better over the next few years.
