The Liverpool Echo has confirmed that Ibrahima Konate will report for pre-season on the 12th of July as plans are put into place to officially unveil him.
The 22-year-old is set to get to work ahead of the start of the 2021/22 Premier League season after it was confirmed he will not take part at the Olympics.
The Liverpool Echo’s David Lynch reports: “Konate will be part of the first tranche of players who report back for the start of Liverpool’s pre-season preparations.
LEIPZIG, GERMANY – DECEMBER 08: Mason Greenwood and Ibrahima Konate battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group H stage match between RB Leipzig and Manchester United at Red Bull Arena on December 8, 2020 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
“He will get his first taste of life at his new club when training begins at Kirkby on July 12.”
It’s hugely advantageous that he will be at the Axa training facility from day one of pre-season as he looks to make his transfer to Liverpool a success.
The Reds have committed to paying a package deal worth as much as €63m (£54.2m), with the 22-year-old set to earn €21.1m (£18.2m) over the course of his five-year deal with the Anfield outfit.
Konate is Liverpool’s first signing of the summer and arguably the most important. (Photo by Tw/AnfieldWatch)
As Anfield Central exclusively reported, he will start the season in defence alongside Virgil van Dijk as Jurgen Klopp wants to give Joe Gomez the best chance of recovering from the patellar tendon rupture he suffered in November.
Konate, who is considered by RB Leipzig coaching staff to be the future best centre-back in the world, has a very exciting future.
Konate’s aerial prowess will be hugely helpful as he makes the switch to the Premier League and while his aggression is a strength of his, he does need to learn when to jump into tackles as he will be playing in a much higher defensive line.
Leipzig´s French defender Ibrahima Konate (Up C) jumps for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match RB Leipzig vs Bayer Leverkusen in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on November 11, 2018. (Photo by ROBERT MICHAEL / AFP)
Of course, he is still only 22 so he has a lot to learn but he couldn’t ask for a better player to learn from than Virgil van Dijk.
The Dutchman’s return from injury is cause for excitement on its own but his injury recovery coupled with Konate’s arrival is further reason for supporters to look forward to the start of the season.
