Red Bull Salzburg striker Karim Konate has opened up on his admiration for Premier League giants Liverpool as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Erling Haaland, Sadio Mane and Takumi Minamino.
If Brighton and Hove Albion possess the finest recruitment department anywhere in European football, then surely Salzburg are not too far behind.
After selling Haaland, Mane, Minamino, Brenden Aaronson, Dominiz Szbosozlai, Karim Adeyemi, Patson Daka and co for huge fees, Karim Konate may soon be in the next cab off the Red Bull rank.
The teenage centre-forward has been in outstanding form on loan at FC Liefering this season; scoring 14 goals in 17 games. He looks ready to make the step up at a club who’s conveyor belt of outstanding young talent is showing no sign of slowing down.
Red Bull Salzburg wonderkid Karim Konate likes Liverpool
Konate, capped seven times by the Ivory Coast at just 19, already has big plans for his career. Ligue 1 giants Lyon remains his dream destination. But offers from Liverpool or Barcelona would take some turning down.
“OL is my flagship club,” Konate tells Actu Foot Afrique. “I also like Liverpool and Barca, but Lyon remains the first of the first. Lyon is the heart. My blood is red and blue.”
Konate, in quotes reported by RMC Sport, highlights his ‘speed’ and ‘technique’ as his two most important attributes. The teenager jumped at the chance to join Red Bull Salzburg from Ivorian outfit ASEC Mimosas, meanwhile, because of their outstanding track record when it comes to developing young African talent.
Mane, Naby Keita and Amadou Haidara, to name but three.
“I chose Salzburg. It was the best choice given their past with African players, and in order to develop myself,” Konate adds. “They (the Salzburg bosses) came to Abidjan and then invited me to visit the facilities. I thought this was the club for me.”
Konate has scored goals at a prolific rate for Salzburg in the UEFA Youth League this season. He even netted a hat-trick against Chelsea, while also finding the net against Dinamo Zagreb and AC Milan.
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