According to the print version of AS, which the Liverpool Echo has transcribed, Liverpool are challenging Manchester United and Real Madrid for Pau Torres.
While Liverpool are working hard on signing Ibrahima Konate, nothing in football is ever guaranteed until the final whistle blows or until a pen has been put to paper which is why the Reds are reportedly in talks with Pau Torres.
Spanish publication AS, as transcribed by the Echo liveblog, report that Liverpool, United and Real Madrid are in talks with Villarreal over their highly-rated defender.
TOPSHOT – Villarreal’s Spanish defender Pau Torres (L) vies with Atletico Madrid’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez during the Spanish League football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Villarreal CF at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on October 3, 2020. PHOTO BY PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES.
Torres reportedly has a release clause worth €65million (£55m) which makes it hard to believe that Liverpool are seriously interested.
With Ibrahima Konate’s release clause set at €40million (£34m), their interest in him is far more believable and while Torres is a very talented defender, Konate is younger, taller, faster and more affordable.
More importantly, he has played at a higher level for RB Leipzig, competing in the Champions League which is something that is obviously important for Liverpool, with the Reds routinely making it to the knockout stages of the tournament.
They won the tournament in 2019 and are looking to add a seventh European Cup to the trophy cabinet and if they are unable to do so this season, they believe Konate can help them do so next season.
LEIPZIG, GERMANY – DECEMBER 08: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Mason Greenwood of Manchester United and Ibrahima Konate of RasenBallsport Leipzig battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group H stage match between RB Leipzig and Manchester United at Red Bull Arena on December 8, 2020 in Leipzig, Germany. PHOTO BY MARIO HOMMES/DEFODI IMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGES.
Konate’s greatest asset is his age. He’s very talented and if Liverpool can manage his poor injury record, he will have the next four or five years to learn from Virgil van Dijk, whose positioning and decision-making are traits any defender would love to have.
Physically, there’s not much Konate is missing with pace, strength and height all boxes he ticks. What surprised me most about the French centre-back is how agile he is for his height (1.94cm).
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