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Reports in the German media suggest that Liverpool are in the final stages of concluding a deal for RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konaté.
Jurgen Klopp has made strengthening his defence a summer priority, and, in addition to signing Konatè, he is also likely to exercise the option to convert Ozan Kabak’s loan from Schalke into a permanent deal.
Konatè, who is 21, is one of the best rated young centre-backs in Europe, although one thing that may give the league champions pause for thought is his injury record – he has made just 89 league appearances in four seasons with the Bundesliga side.
No fee for the Frenchman has yet been agreed, although there is speculation that he could be acquired for as little as £28 million.
Konaté and Kabak will compete next season for first-team places with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, both of whom are expected to make a full return to fitness.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.