Exclusive: Liverpool receive green light in major transfer after phone call with manager

New RB Leipzig manager Jesse Marsch was appointed last week and made it a priority to talk to Ibrahima Konate but he as unable to persuade the Frenchman to stay.

The Frenchman was contacted by his would-be new manager but with Konate heading to Anfield in the summer, he won't be managed by Marsch. The American was appointed after Julian Nagelsmann accepted a job offer by Bayern Munich.

As we reported exclusively last week, the new RBL coach resolved to contact the no.6 as soon as possible to try and derail the proposed. Konate, however, made it clear that the opportunity to join Liverpool was too good to turn down.

Liverpool made it a priority in February to get a deal for Konate over the line before the end of the season and while the deal will only be made official after the end of the season, it's a formality now.

Bayern Munich's swift negotiations meant that Dayot Upamecano was signed before the Reds could even take a run at him and it was this development in February that prompted the Reds to take action of their own.

Konate agreed on personal terms with Liverpool at the start of March and Fabrizio Romano soon after confirmed that an agreement had been reached with RB Leipzig over the fee.