EXCLUSIVE: LFC close to signing starlet; coaching staff believe he'll be best in the world

Sources close to Anfield Central have been told that RB Leipzig's coaching staff believe that Ibrahima Konate will be the best centre-back in the world one day.

The Reds have been chasing the French defender for months now, with our sources close to the story for several months now. We reported in mid-February that Liverpool were working on signing him before the end of the season.

There was an increased urgency in their efforts to sign Konate after Dayot Upamecano was snapped up by Bayern Munich on the 14th of February. The French duo were both on Jurgen Klopp's radar but the German outfit moved fast to beat a host of clubs to sign the RB Leipzig no. 5.

The Anfield outfit is set to sign their man, with the Guardian confirming this news over the weekend.

Konate has been identified as the solution to Liverpool's defensive crisis. Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are set to return next season from respective injuries that have ruled them out for the rest of this season.

It remains to be seen who will partner van Dijk but if you ask RB Leipzig, it should be their 21-year-old centre-back. Standing at 1.94m and blessed with uncanny pace for a man of his height, Konate has all the tools to become one of the best defenders in the world.

We've been told that coaching staff at Red Bull Arena believe he will go from strength to strength over the next several years and will end up as the best centre-back in the world ahead of Upamecano.

This will depend largely on his ability to remain fit. Despite his age, Konate is no stranger to injury but if Liverpool can ensure he avoids any serious injuries, there's no doubt he will develop into a top defender.

Playing with and learning from Virgil van Dijk will only further accelerate his growth into one of Europe's best centre-halves.