Liverpool close to completing Ibrahima Konate transfer, says Fabrizio Romano

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Liverpool are close to completing the signing of RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate according to Fabrizio Romano.

Speaking on talkSPORT, the Sky Sports Italia journalist revealed that the Merseyside club are inching nearer to completing a deal to sign the French youngster from the Bundesliga club, with Romano saying: “It is really, really close. it is just a matter of time. The agreement with the player is done. They want to sign the player. It is just a case of the clubs negotiating. The player wants to go. It is a five-year contract. In some weeks, it will be complete.”

Konate has been linked with a move to Liverpool for some time, with Jurgen Klopp’s side desperate for new defensive signings following massive injury blows this season to the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, with the Reds adding both Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies in the January transfer window to plug these problems in the short term.

As per the talkSPORT report, Konate has a release clause in his Leipzig contract said to be valued at £30m, with Liverpool in advanced talks with the east German club over the payment of this fee.

TBR View: Konate could be Gomez’s long-term partner at centre-back

Liverpool’s centre-back problems have been the main cause for their lack of a title defence this season that could also result in the Merseyside club missing out on UEFA Champions League football, yet if they’re able to recruit Konate for next year, Klopp’s side will be in a much better position both in the long and short term.

The 21-year-old defender has flourished into one of Europe’s top defensive prospects since breaking into the Leipzig first-team, and alongside another young centre-back in Gomez, Liverpool’s backline is locked in for the next few years if Konate continues to develop at the pace he is currently at.