Liverpool are now believed not to be aiming to move to RB Leipzig center-back Ibrahima Konate, despite initial reports suggesting a deal was imminent.
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At the end of March, it was reported that Liverpool ‘completed’ the signing of the 21-year-old, whose £ 35 million release clause makes him one of the most affordable young defenders. But Leipzig immediately doubted the rumors by saying that Liverpool was not an option for Konate.
It has been a bit quiet since then, but SportBILD (via Sport Witness) has taken it back just to shoot it down. As the story goes, Leipzig’s CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was so horrified by the story that he contacted Liverpool to find out what was going on, only to be told that Konate is “not a problem” for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
It is still expected that Konate will leave Leipzig this summer, but it is said with some certainty that his next goal will not be Liverpool, who are not believed to be interested in the midfielder at the moment.
This does not definitely mean that Liverpool will not sign Konate, whose affordable release clause means that things can change at a certain second, but most people in Germany seem confused about why this story started circulating in the first place.
Sky Deutschland recently stated that there was still no “concrete offer” for Konate, although the Frenchman is believed to be increasingly dissatisfied with boss Julian Nagelsmann’s treatment of him, leaving the door open for a potential move away.
Chelsea and Arsenal have both recently been credited with an interest in Konate, and with Liverpool’s negotiations not considered as close to completion as initial reports suggest, there may still be some twists in this.
As for Liverpool, they are still expected to continue a new midfielder this summer. BILD believes that the man at the top of their wish list is already at the club. Ozan Kabak, who agreed to a half-season loan from Schalke, can become a permanent signatory by activating a call option worth around £ 18 million.
Kabak’s loan is expected to become permanent Julian Finney / Getty Images
Turkey’s international has been solid since he moved to Anfield in the summer. He has managed nine games in all competitions, and although he has not completely fixed Liverpool’s defensive problems, he has done enough to show why he was named one of the Bundesliga’s finest young defenders last season.
There have been rumors that Liverpool want to sign two midfielders this summer. Kabak probably seems to be the first, but all indications are that he will not collaborate with Konate next year.
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