"It is really, really close": Fabrizio Romano confirms agreement is in place for Liverpool signing

The journalist told talkSPORT that a deal to take Ibrahima Konate to RB Leipzig is 'really, really close' as Liverpool look to put their defensive injury crisis to bed once and for all.

“It is really, really close. it is just a matter of time,” said journalist Fabrizio Romano on talkSPORT on Wednesday when asked for the latest on Liverpool’s interest in the Frenchman.

“The agreement with the player is done. They want to sign the player. It is just a case of the clubs negotiating.

“The player wants to go. It is a five-year contract. In some weeks, it will be complete.”

Romano also responded to a Liverpool fan on Twitter who wanted an update on the Konate deal, responding: "Why [the need for an] update? He’s going to Liverpool."

why update? He’s going to Liverpool ????

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 5, 2021

Anfield Central has been close to the story for a few months now ever since we broke the news in mid-February that Liverpool wanted to complete a deal before the end of the season.

Jurgen Klopp was dealing with season-long injuries to Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez and was forced into an emergency move to sign Ozan Kabak from Schalke in the winter transfer market.

The Turk has been paired with Nathaniel Phillips to varying degrees of success while Ben Davies, who was also signed in the January transfer window, hasn't made a single appearance for the Reds.

Liverpool's defensive record, as a result of the injuries and subsequent chopping and changing in central defence, is awful.

The Reds have been absolutely decimated by injuries and have conceded 39 times this season and with five games to go, this will surely increase.

It was to be expected. You cannot remove a player like van Dijk without expecting a drop off not least removing him and a player like Gomez at the same time.

The duo formed an intuitive relationship that was the perfect blend of aerial dominance, pace, strength and fear factor. Players would actively switch side to avoid van Dijk only to run into the fastest centre-back in the Premier League who is also blessed with incredible ball-playing abilities.

Konate has his work cut for him if he's going to force himself into the starting XI ahead of Gomez.

The French defender is a top player and RB Leipzig believe he's going all the way to the very top but, in my book, Gomez is the best young defender in the world despite all his injuries since joining the club from Charlton Athletic.