Konate agreed personal terms, bound for Liverpool

Maybe Liverpool won’t spend much in the next transfer window, maybe they won’t be able to bring bring names, maybe they won’t even play the Champions League, but one thing is sure: they will be better in defense. Not only will they have their key defenders back in August, but they will buy defenders for sure. And one of them is already „reserved“ – Ibrahima Konate.

The Leipzig defender has agreed to personal terms with the Reds and will be second Red Bull player who will play in Liverpool, after Nabu Keita. Anfield Central claims that Konate will receive a staggering 150% pay rise, since his wage will be around 100.000 euros a week.

However, they are strong claims that Manchester United is in the game and is willing to pay the player’s clause of 40 million euros, set up by the club. The story was dismissed by Leipzig, and Eurosport claims that United are also in the running to sign the center-back. Konate has struggled with several injuries over the past 18 months, but he is still rated highly among the top clubs. He is currently out of the starting 11 in Leipzig, but only due to injuries.

If this transfer goes ahead, it will be interesting to see what happens with Leipzig. A club which is very serious and has a long term plan will be without their two best defenders, since Dayot Upamecano was already bought by Bayern Munich.

One of the main reasons for Liverpool’s struggles this season has been the injury crisis in defense: Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip ruled out for the long-term, and even midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho played in defense. The Reds have conceded the second-most amount of goals in the top seven of the Premier League and they want to make sure it doesn’t happen again next season.