According to The Athletic, Liverpool are already finalising a deal to sign Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig.
The 21-year-old has a release clause of €40 million (£34 million), which looks like it will have to be paid in full with the Germans under no pressure to sell.
However, The Telegraph claim that Tottenham are also in this £34 million race, but would need to sell a defender before swooping for Konate.
In that respect, a report emerging from Belgium could suggest that Toby Alderweireld holds the key to Tottenham’s Konate hopes.
Voetbal 24 state that Club Brugge have a ‘crush’ on Tottenham’s No.4, and have already made contact with him regarding a transfer.
However, Voetbal 24 stress that it all depends on what Alderweireld plans to do once this season ends.
If he opts to return to his homeland, then José Mourinho might decide to trigger Konate’s release clause and obtain an immediate replacement for his Belgian colossus.
Having said that, this would leave Spurs at a disadvantage, as Liverpool don’t need to wait on anything before swooping for the French centre-back.
If Tottenham really are keen to sign Konate, the north Londoners should probably have a sit down with Alderweireld to see what his plans are.
If they wait too long, Daniel Levy and Mourinho might have to watch the prodigious Frenchman move to Anfield, which would be gutting for them.
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