Ibrahima Konate ‘passes Liverpool medical’ ahead of £35m transfer from RB Leipzig after Klopp activates release clause

RB LEIPZIG star Ibrahima Konate has passed a medical and is set to join Liverpool.

That is according to ESPN, who claim that Konate is set to become the Reds’ first signing of the summer transfer window.

Konate completed his medical a few weeks ago and is expected to put pen to paper on a five-year contract with the Merseysiders.

Liverpool are reportedly on the verge of meeting the talented centre-back’s £35million asking price, which they will have to pay in one instalment.

If all goes well then the 22-year-old will link up with his new team after the Under-21 European Championship where he competes with France.

Jurgen Klopp has been keeping tabs on Konate ever since 2017 when the defender was playing for Sochaux.

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A hip injury last season put Liverpool’s interest on ice but the Frenchman continued to impress in the Bundesliga with Leipzig, where he has been playing in the last four years.

Klopp wants to strengthen his defence following a turbulent season, which saw the Reds barely finishing third in the Premier League.

The German boss was deprived of star defender Virgil van Dijk throughout most of the season due to a ruptured cruciate ligament injury.

Joe Gomez and Joel Matip also missed a large chunk of the campaign due to injury as well.

Konate’s imminent arrival means Liverpool won’t be keeping Ozan Kabak next season.

Kabak moved to Anfield on loan from Schalke in January but the Merseysiders are not likely to trigger his release clause in the summer.

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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk