Liverpool have reached an agreement with Ibrahima Konate over personal terms while sporting director Michael Edwards continues to negotiate with RB Leipzig over the payment structure of his fee.
This is according to the same source that told us that Liverpool reached a verbal agreement with the defender on Friday last week.
The Reds are working hard to sign Konate as soon as possible after Bayern Munich signed his teammate Dayot Upamecano before they had a chance to formally register their interest in the 6ft1 Frenchman.
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – FEBRUARY 16: Dayot Upamecano of RB Leipzig during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between RB Leipzig and Liverpool FC at Puskas Arena on February 16, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. PHOTO BY CHRISTINA PAHNKE – SAMPICS/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES.
We understand that Liverpool have offered Konate around £70,000/week – a 118.75% increase on his current wage at RB Leipzig and the Frenchman has accepted.
As far as a move to Anfield is concerned, all that remains is for an agreement to be reached on the payment structure, with Liverpool looking to find the right deal.
The current financial climate in football is such that the Reds don’t want to commit to paying the entire release clause upfront for fear of finding themselves in a position where COVID 2.0 leaves them with lost revenue as it has over the last 13 months.
While Liverpool are keen to get a deal over the line as soon as possible, RB Leipzig could put up a fight. There is a good relationship between the two sides after the negotiations to sign Naby Keita in 2017 ended with a loan deal which saw him spend a year on loan with the Bundesliga side.
LEIPZIG, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 25: Naby Keita of RB Leipzig makes a break during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and SV Werder Bremen at Red Bull Arena on November 25, 2017 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Konate is one of the most exciting defenders in the world but he will face competition from Joe Gomez for a starting role. For Liverpool supporters, this is great news after the lack of options this season.
Virgil van Dijk and Gomez are expected to return to action next season while van Dijk is on his way back already, with the Dutchman aiming to return in time for the EUROs.
