Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has raved about Ibrahima Konate on the club’s official website.
Klopp has said that Konate has huge potential, and the Liverpool boss has high hopes for the 22-year-old central defender.
As announced on Liverpool’s official website, the Reds have reached an agreement with RB Leipzig over the transfer of Konate in the summer transfer window.
The defender has agreed a long-term contract with the Merseyside club and will officially move to Anfield on July 1, ‘subject to international clearance and a successful work permit application process, after finalising terms and passing a medical’.
Klopp told Liverpool’s official website about Konate: “He comes to us after playing more than 90 times for Leipzig in the Bundesliga and European football. I’m sure that number would have been more but for some injury, but even so that means he already has experience of what it takes to compete in two outstandingly difficult competitions.
“He also played for a team in the Champions League in high-pressure matches, who have a similar football vision to ourselves. I am confident we are signing a player who can play for us right away, but he is a boy of 22 years of age who has room to improve because of his massive potential.
“I know that’s something he is eager to work on with us to become an even better player. For me, that’s really exciting because I have seen how good he is already and I’m looking forward to working with him when he joins up with us in pre-season.”
Konate is a very talented and promising young defender who has been affected by injuries.
However, Liverpool reportedly paying £36 million for the youngster shows that they are not worried about it in the long run.
The defender has a lot of experience in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.
It seems that Konate will start next season alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Reds’ defence.
Van Dijk is one of the best centre-backs in the world, and playing alongside the Netherlands international will help Konate improve and develop as a footballer..
It will be interesting to see what happens with the other centre-backs.
Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Ben Davies, Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips are the other centre-back options for Klopp.
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