Exclusive: Liverpool will announce £54.2million deal by the end of the week

Liverpool will unveil Ibrahima Konate's move to Anfield by the end of the week as the Reds look to complete the deal as soon as possible.

A deal to sign the centre-back will cost around £36million and Liverpool will need to pay the full release clause upfront after RB Leipzig rejected Michael Edwards' attempt to negotiate a deal similar to the one that saw Thiago arrive at the club last summer.

With his £70,000/week wages factored in, the deal to sign Konate will cost around £54.2million over the course of his five-year contract on Merseyside.

He negotiated a payment structure with Bayern Munich that saw them sign Thiago for just £5million upfront with £20million to be paid off over the next four seasons.

Although Liverpool begrudgingly agreed to paying the release clause in full this summer, they are signing a player that RB Leipzig believe is going all the way to the very top.

A source close to Anfield Central reveals that Liverpool plan to unveil the centre-back by the end of the week.

The Reds put plans into motion as far back as February after enquiring about him and Dayot Upamecano in December.

After Bayern Munich moved swiftly to sign the defender before Liverpool or any other big clubs could make their move, Michael Edwards was instructed to begin laying the groundwork for a move to Anfield.