Jurgen Klopp insists new £36m signing Ibrahima Konate can solve Liverpool’s problems in defence

Jurgen Klopp insists new £36m signing Ibrahima Konate can solve Liverpool’s problems in defence and will ‘play for us right away’ as he talks up the 22-year-old centre-back

Jurgen Klopp believes signing Ibrahima Konate will help solve Liverpool‘s defensive problems after the 22-year-old’s £36million move form RB Leipzig was confirmed on Friday.

Klopp admitted it was vital that they strengthened in defence this summer after long-term injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip derailed their season last term.

The Frenchman has agreed a long-term deal with Liverpool, becoming their first major signing of the summer, and Klopp is confident he has the ability to slot straight into the first team alongside first-choice centre-back van Dijk. 

Liverpool have announced the signing of RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate on Friday 

The club confirmed the move on Friday afternoon via a short promo video on social media

The club confirmed the move on Friday afternoon via a short promo video on social media 

‘I’m really pleased we’ve been able to add a player of Ibrahima’s quality to our squad and he is someone I’ve admired for a long time, ever since I first became aware of his potential when he was at Sochaux,’ Klopp told Liverpool’s official website.

‘After the problems we had with injuries in the centre-half position last season, there’s no doubt it was clear it was an area of the team we needed to strengthen – but I first have to say that the job Nat [Phillips], Rhys [Williams] and Ozan [Kabak] did was incredible. Unbelievable really.

‘In Ibrahima we are signing a player who will add to the quality we already have here. His physical attributes are very impressive; he is quick, he is very strong and he is dominant in the air.

‘He comes to us after playing more than 90 times for Leipzig in the Bundesliga and European football. I’m sure that number would have been more but for some injury, but even so that means he already has experience of what it takes to compete in two outstandingly difficult competitions.

‘He also played for a team in the Champions League in high-pressure matches, who have a similar football vision to ourselves.’

Klopp continued: ‘I am confident we are signing a player who can play for us right away, but he is a boy of 22 years of age who has room to improve because of his massive potential. I know that’s something he is eager to work on with us to become an even better player.

‘For me, that’s really exciting because I have seen how good he is already and I’m looking forward to working with him when he joins up with us in pre-season.’ 

Konate, who had also attracted interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, comes to Anfield with a burgeoning reputation despite injury reducing him to just 14 league appearances last season as Leipzig finished second in Bundesliga.

His arrival will likely see Phillips fall further down the pecking order, despite earning plaudits from Klopp this season for stepping up in van Dijk’s absence.

The 24-year-old was Liverpool’s surprise star of the season and recently outlined his desire to stay at the club and fight for his place in the team.

Kabak, meanwhile, is set to return to Schalke this summer after Liverpool decided against taking up the £18m option to sign him permanently following his loan spell.