Liverpool believe Ibrahima Konate will turn out to be a better defender than Dayot Upamecano, according to reports. Rumours surfaced on Monday claiming Liverpool are finalising a deal to sign RB Leipzig star Konate. The 21-year-old will not be the only French centre-back to leave the Bundesliga club this summer if he completes a move to Anfield.
Liverpool transfer news: Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano could both leave RB Leipzig (Image: GETTY)
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims the Reds see Konate as having more potential than Upamecano, as long as he remains injury-free.
"Liverpool are convinced that this player is one of the best centre-backs of the future," Romano told talkSPORT.
"Some are saying that he could be better than Upamecano in the future.
"Imagine how much potential this player [has]. So let's see what happens with injuries, with the medicals and everything if Liverpool go on to sign the player.
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Liverpool transfer news: Ibrahima Konate could join the Reds for £34.2m (Image: EXPRESS)
"But for sure the potential of the player apart from the injuries is something great it seems."
Speaking to L'Equipe on Monday, Konate refused to comment on speculation linking him with a move to the reigning Premier League champions.
He said: "I woke up, I saw my phone ringing all over the place. I just wanted to tell them, 'Hey, I played yesterday, I'm tired, leave me alone'.
"Frankly, I don't even watch this. We can't focus on that, there are the Euros and then my return to the club. You have to focus on that and not on the external things."
Romano insists a deal is yet to be completed for Konate, saying Leipzig will not accept anything less than his £34.2million (€40m) release clause.
"They're in talks with the agent, they are trying to understand if they can sign the player," Romano added.
"The deal is not done, it's not signed yet. They're in talks with the player about the contract and everything, because we know that they have a release clause with Leipzig and Leipzig want €40million or nothing to sell the player.
"So it's not done at the moment, they're just waiting and talking with the player.
"He's one of the targets on the list, they want a new centre-back in the summer but for sure it's not yet a done deal."