---
title: "Liverpool: Reds close in on Ibrahima Konate move"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-reds-close-in-on-ibrahima-konate-move/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2021-03-29T13:10:28Z"
modified: "2021-03-29T13:10:28Z"
---

# Liverpool: Reds close in on Ibrahima Konate move

**Liverpool are closing in on a move for RB Leipzig centre-back Ibrahima Konate, according to [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/2482047/2021/03/29/liverpool-finalising-deal-to-sign-ibrahima-konate-from-rb-leipzig/?source=emp_shared_article)‘s David Ornstein.**

Jurgen Klopp is likely to be eyeing up a new defender this summer, having experienced all sort of problems in that area throughout the season.

Liverpool are without [injured trio](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-liverpool/sperrenundverletzungen/verein/31) Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip for the remainder of the season, with Nathaniel Phillips forced to become a regular and Ozan Kabak [joining](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/12206006/ozan-kabak-transfer-liverpool-sign-schalke-centre-back-on-six-month-loan-with-option-to-buy) on loan from Schalke.

Konate is a player with whom the Reds have been [linked](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-united/transfer-news-rb-leipzig-ibrahima-konate-b1799111.html) numerous times in the past and it now looks as though he will be heading to Anfield in the summer.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”350790″\]

### Liverpool look set to sign Konate

According to Ornstein, significant progress has been made with regards to a deal for the 21-year-old , with talks now at an advanced stage.

Konate has been limited to just [four Bundesliga starts](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/345957/Show/Ibrahima-Konat%C3%A9) this season, due to [injuries](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ibrahima-konate/verletzungen/spieler/357119) of his own, but he is considered a player of big potential. His former coach Ralf Rangnick [has said](https://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/2020/prospect-ibrahima-konate/) of the Frenchman: “He’s so good that he could play for Real Madrid or Barcelona one day.”

### Transfer Tavern take

It is apparent that Klopp sees the importance of bringing in a centre-back this summer, with Matip particularly [unreliable](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joel-matip/verletzungen/spieler/82105) when it comes to staying fit consistently.

Konate is a player who could not only come in and do a job straight away, boasting [ample Bundesliga and Champions League experience](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ibrahima-konate/detaillierteleistungsdaten/spieler/357119), but could also represent the long-term future at Anfield.

***In other news, one Liverpool star has been tipped to stay put this summer – find out who it is [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/liverpool-reds-convinced-mohamed-salah-will-stay-put/).***