Liverpool are in the 'final stages' of signing RB Leipzig star Ibrahima Konate, according to Bild's head of football Christian Falk.

The Reds are looking to sign at least one new centre-back this summer, having suffered terrible misfortune in that area this season.

Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are all out for the rest of the campaign, with Nathaniel Phillips and Ozan Kabak an unlikely current pairing currently.

Konate has been the defender most heavily linked with joining Liverpool, with recent reports saying a deal looks likely in the summer.

Konate deal edges closer for Liverpool

Speaking to Bild [via Sport Witness], Falk claimed that the move is nearing its conclusion, with the price of it also a reasonable amount:

"He doesn’t have seem to be that expensive after all. It’s quiet, so they’re really in the final stages of the transfer now; I heard they’re going through, and they’re just going through all the data again as he’s had a few injuries.

"The nice news is they’ve always talked about €40m plus, but he’s supposed to cost, according to our information, the transfer fee is €32.5m- €34m.

"That means in these times, every million that’s cheaper makes the transfer easier, of course."

Transfer Tavern take

The £31.5million-rated (Transfermarkt) Konate is certainly a centre-back with a huge amount of promise, already making 90 appearances for Leipzig at the age of just 21.

He is winning an average of 1.8 aerial duels per game in the league this season, which suggests he could thrive in that area at Liverpool, with the Reds reportedly wanting an aerially-dominant player to come in.

Konate's injury issues are the one possible stumbling block, however, but if Jurgen Klopp believes he is the right man, the boss has done enough to prove he is worth trusting.

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been sticking up for one Reds player after some recent criticism. Find out who it is here.