Liverpool trigger Ibrahima Konate’s £36m release clause and agree personal terms

Liverpool seal the summer’s FIRST big transfer, triggering Ibrahima Konate’s £36m release clause and agreeing personal terms with RB Leipzig’s French defender


Liverpool have agreed personal terms with RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate and have triggered his release clause of £36m this morning. 

The 22-year-old French defender will now complete the formalities of the deal and is expected to be announced as Jurgen Klopp’s first summer signing in the next 48 hours. 

Liverpool have been looking to strengthen in central defence after losing Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip to injury this season and Konate represents the first major summer investment by any of the Premier League’s top sides.  

Ibrahima Konate (R) is on the verge of joining Liverpool after the Reds met his release clause

Konate will bolster a Liverpool backline that was decimated by injuries at centre back this term

Konate will bolster a Liverpool backline that was decimated by injuries at centre back this term

The deal will see Ozan Kabak return to Schalke following his loan spell at Anfield, but Kabak has offers from Premier League and Bundesliga sides after filling in for the likes of Van Dijk admirably. 

It is the first deal in a summer expected to be busy in the transfer market, with the likes of Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane and Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish linked with big-money moves away, as is Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland.  

Konate is currently in France preparing for his country’s European U21 Championship quarter-final against Holland next week 

Jurgen Klopp has snubbed the chance to sign defender Ozan Kabak on a permanent transfer

Jurgen Klopp has snubbed the chance to sign defender Ozan Kabak on a permanent transfer

The 22-year-old featured 21 times RB Leipzig this season but only started eight matches in the Bundesliga as Bayern Munich-bound Dayot Upamecano and Willi Orban established themselves as the first-choice centre-back pairing.

Leipzig are already understood to be looking for a replacement for Konate with France also keen that the deal is wrapped up quickly so he can focus on his international commitments.

Ironically, the Bundesliga club have shown an interest in Ozan Kabak who has been on loan at Liverpool since January.   

More to follow…