RB Leipzig boss: Liverpool aren’t an option for Ibrahima Konate

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 20 May 2021 15:54 BST
• 5 min read

RB Leipzig director Markus Krosche has poured cold water on speculation linking defender Ibrahima Konate with a move to Liverpool.

The Reds are believed to be in the market for a new centre back this summer after enduring a major injury crisis in that position this season.

Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez both suffered major knee injuries, only for Joel Matip and both stand-in midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to join them on the sidelines.

Konate had been linked with a £34million move to Anfield this summer, but Krosche has denied that is the case rather emphatically.

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Liverpool ‘not an option’ for Konate

“I can’t say anything on that topic,” he told Stats Perform News when asked if he felt the defender would be on his way to Liverpool. “I think that this is not an option for Ibu.

“He has a long contract with us and he knows what we mean to him and what he means to us. 

“He was unlucky last year as he had a longer injury but this year he is in a good way and he is an extremely important player that has a lot of potential. 

“We want to help him to further develop, and we play internationally, have a very good team, so I don’t see a reason for him to leave us.”

Although the Bundesliga club remain adamant that Konate won’t be leaving this summer, Knoche didn’t address the rumour that the French defender has a minimum-fee release clause in his current contract.

As such, regardless of how much RB Leipzig want to keep Konate, he could reportedly leave the club regardless if Liverpool cough up the €40 million that will apparently trigger a clause to let him leave.

Liverpool also have an £18million option to buy Ozan Kabak from Schalke after a loan move from the Bundesliga strugglers in January. It is not clear whether they will sign him permanently.