James Pearce provides insight into £54.2m deal that promises a return to the big leagues

Liverpool considered signing Pau Torres and Duje Caleta-Car but ultimately Ibrahima Konate was always destined to join the Anfield outfit.

James Pearce writes for the Athletic and suggests that while they were working on signing Konate, Liverpool "considered the merits of Villarreal’s Pau Torres and Duje Caleta-Car of Marseille".

The former was also under consideration in the winter window when Liverpool moved for Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak but with Ibrahima Konate arriving at Anfield following the U21 EUROs, the Reds finally have their centre-back injury crisis under wraps.

His first game for France at this summer's tournament is on Monday against Holland in the quarter-finals.

Liverpool completed a deal to sign Konate after agreeing to pay his £36million release clause with the Frenchman joining the club for the next five years until 2026 which means he will be with the Reds until his 27th birthday at least.

His wages take the total value of the deal to £54.2million.

The Anfield side has its defence sorted for the next decade in all likelihood with Joe Gomez also only 24 which means once Virgil van Dijk retires, the Merseysiders will still have two hugely talented central defenders in their ranks.

In fact, Konate is so highly rated that not only does the RB Leipzig coaching staff consider him as having the potential to be the best defender in the world but Jesse Marsch is 'broken-hearted' at the prospect of missing out on coaching the young defender.

Standing at 1.94m, he is a veritable giant and has all the tools to succeed in the Premier League and some.

I know the 2020/21 Premier League season only just came to a close but I cannot wait for next season to arrive and the thought of having to wait two and a half months is frustrating.

The EUROs will make the lack of club football bearable at least and with the tournament set to last until the final on the 11th of July, we won't have to wait to loo long until next season comes around.

The prospect of injured stars like van Dijk and Jordan Henderson returning to the fold and new arrivals like Konate making their debuts is enough to make the thought of waiting months to see it happen almost painful.

The 2020/21 season was a fluke as Liverpool dropped from their 99-point winning season to a third-place finish on 69 points. A 30-point swing and one that should swing back the other way.

Jurgen Klopp has won the Premier League Manager of the Month award for dragging his side into the top three despite sitting in seventh just a few weeks ago.

His decision to return Fabinho into central midfield was inspired as it saw Liverpool show the efficiency that saw them win the Premier League last month and the Brazilian is now in talks to renew his contract.