Liverpool agree £36m deal with RB Leipzig for centre-half Ibrahima Konate

Liverpool have fired the starting pistol on the Premier League’s summer transfer business by agreeing a £36 million deal to sign centre-half Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig.

The move, subject to international clearance and a successful work permit application process, will see the 22-year-old vye for a place in Jurgen Klopp’s side next season alongside Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and the returning Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool decided to make their move this week to secure the 22-year-old before the start of the UEFA Under-21 European Championship, as Konate is part of the France squad who play their opening game against Holland on Monday. However, he was given permission to finalise his move from Germany to England and passed a medical before the agreement was publicly announced.

Konate emerged as the first choice on a list of potential centre-back recruits drawn up during last season and Liverpool moved to convince the youngster to choose Anfield amid interest from several top European clubs.

“I’m really happy to be joining such a massive club like Liverpool,” Konate said after the deal was announced. “It’s a really exciting moment for me and my family and I am really looking forward to meeting my new team-mates, the staff and getting started on this new chapter.

“Right now, my focus is on the U21 European Championships with France, but after this competition I know I will be joining one of the best teams in the world and that gives me a great feeling.

“I have worked very hard for many years to get to this point, but I would like to say a big thank you to everyone at RB Leipzig and all the people I worked with there – the coaches, my teammates, the staff and especially the fans.

“Your support helped me grow up during my time there and become not only a better player, but a better man and I will always be grateful for it.”

The Parisian-born defender joined Leipzig four years ago and this season formed a strong partnership with Bayern Munich-bound Dayot Upamecano, but given he has been on Klopp’s radar for long enough that his interest exceeds his time spent in Germany, Liverpool’s move came as no surprise once their club scouts recommended the youngster over his compatriot.

“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to add a player of Ibrahima’s quality to our squad and he is someone I’ve admired for a long time, ever since I first became aware of his potential when he was at Sochaux,” Klopp explained.

“After the problems we had with injuries in the centre-half position last season, there’s no doubt it was clear it was an area of the team we needed to strengthen – but I first have to say that the job Nat [Phillips], Rhys [Williams] and Ozan [Kabak] did was incredible. Unbelievable really.

“In Ibrahima we are signing a player who will add to the quality we already have here. His physical attributes are very impressive; he is quick, he is very strong and he is dominant in the air.

“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.”

Liverpool see Konate as possessing the physical attributes to slot into Klopp’s backline. He is quick and powerful and the Bundlesliga is seen as the ideal preparation for the similarly robust and pacey Premier League.

Konate will have the opportunity to compete to be the long-term partner for van Dijk, although one of the reasons Liverpool were so eager to conclude the deal is to enable caution with the Dutchman’s recovery from cruciate knee surgery.

While van Dijk has targeted a return in pre-season, the serious nature of his injury means Liverpool will not rush him back if they have other viable options. Both Gomez and Matip - also long-term absentees - may be further down the line in their recoveries by August. Konate, therefore, may find himself partnering Gomez and Matip in his first Liverpool appearances.