Liverpool target Ibrahima Konate could be handed a new contract at RB Leipzig with the Bundesliga giants looking to delete that pesky £35 million release clause, as reported by Kicker.
With Julian Nagelsmann gone and Dayot Upamecano preparing to join him at Bayern Munich next season, Leipzig are doing all they can to ensure they will not be railroaded into selling another key piece of the Red Bull machine.
It is no secret that Liverpool want Konate at Anfield (Athletic).
With a £35 million release clause in his contract, Leipzig will be powerless to prevent the France U21 international swapping Germany for England if he has his heart set on a fresh start.
There is one way that Leipzig can regain control of the situation, however.
Kicker reports that the Bundesliga’s second-placed side are planning to offer Konate a new deal; one that will not only increase his salary but will also remove that troublesome release clause.
This would allow Leipzig to demand far more than £35 million for one of Europe’s most talented young centre-backs. Or stop him leaving entirely.
Of course, much will depend on where Konate’s heart lies.
Fabrizio Romano claims that the 21-year-old has agreed a five-year contract at Anfield. But there are still nagging doubts about whether Konate really wants to make the move to Merseyside this summer.
Breaking his silence in April, the former Paris FC man suggested that he had no plans to walk away from Leipzig before his current deal expires in 2023.
Speaking after Leipzig’s 4-1 defeat to Dortmund in the DFB Pokal final on Thursday meanwhile, CEO Oliver Mintzlaff insisted that the taurine-powered outfit had not given up hope of keeping Konate in Germany (Liverpool Echo).
“He is a player we want to keep.”
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