Report: Liverpool make contact with Leipzig over Ibrahima Konate

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Liverpool have made contact with RB Leipzig over the possible signing of Ibrahima Konate, according to the Sunday World.

The Reds will almost certainly target a new defender during the summer after a rotten injury crisis has decimated the squad this season.

After Dayot Upamecano signed pre-contract terms with Bayern Munich over the weekend, the Premier League champions are now eyeing his teammate.

The 21-year-old is a compatriot of the Frenchman, Upamecano and could come up against Liverpool in tonight’s Champions League clash.

He made a return to the side as a substitute in the weekend win over Augsburg after missing several games with an ankle problem.

Konate arrived at Leipzig from Sochaux in 2017 and has made 87 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit, scoring four goals.

The youngster has 11 France under-21 caps and possesses pace and solidity from the back.

It is thought that Manchester United and Chelsea could join the race for Konate and Liverpool will need to show their ambition.

The young gem earns £40,000-a-week at is likely to command a sizeable transfer fee given his quality and potential.

In order to attract a player of Konate’s quality, Liverpool will almost certainly need to ensure Champions League qualification.

With Chelsea and United on course for a top-four finish, they could hold an advantage if Liverpool miss out.

TBR View: Konate would be an ideal signing for Liverpool

Upamecano opting to sign for Bayern is a big blow but not an overly surprising one.

Liverpool appear to have a contingency plan, however, and the addition of Konate looks a nice fit.

Jurgen Klopp will have Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez back in his squad next season and both will compete for a place.

With that in mind, a younger option is perhaps the best way to go and Konate looks set for a bright future.

Having played plenty of games in the Bundesliga he should be quickly up to speed in the Premier League.

Joel Matip has endured two years where he has picked up injury after injury and it could be time to replace him in the squad.

Konate fits the bill as someone who can not only do a job but also become a mainstay in the Liverpool team for years to come.