---
title: "Liverpool: Journalist gives key Ibrahima Konate update"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-journalist-gives-key-ibrahima-konate-update/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2021-04-10T11:40:33Z"
modified: "2021-04-10T11:40:33Z"
---

# Liverpool: Journalist gives key Ibrahima Konate update

**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](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-liverpool/sperrenundverletzungen/verein/31) 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](https://theathletic.com/2482047/2021/03/29/liverpool-finalising-deal-to-sign-ibrahima-konate-from-rb-leipzig/?source=emp_shared_article) saying a deal looks likely in the summer.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”350790″\]

### Konate deal edges closer for Liverpool

Speaking to [*Bild*](https://www.bild.de/video/mediathek/englische-woche/englische-woche-73074748.bild.html) \[via [*Sport Witness*](https://sportwitness.co.uk/belief-liverpool-entered-final-stages-defender-purchase-doesnt-seem-expensive/)\], 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)](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ibrahima-konate/profil/spieler/357119) Konate is certainly a centre-back with a huge amount of promise, already making [90 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ibrahima-konate/alletore/spieler/357119) for Leipzig at the age of just 21.

He is winning an average of [1.8 aerial duels](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/345957/Show/Ibrahima-Konat%C3%A9) per game in the league this season, which suggests he could thrive in that area at Liverpool, with the Reds [reportedly](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/liverpool/transfer-news-david-alaba-b1786502.html) wanting an aerially-dominant player to come in.

Konate’s [injury issues](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ibrahima-konate/verletzungen/spieler/357119) 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](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/liverpool-fans-stick-up-for-naby-keita/).***