Liverpool have been made aware of an upcoming release clause for Ibrahima Konate. The defender is available on the cheap this summer.
This comes from Christian Falk. The BILD journalist says that Liverpool have been informed that Ibrahima Konate has a release clause this summer.
He then backed this up on his Twitter account.
Liverpool are not alone, however. Both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United want Konate. It’s important to note that Konate’s release clause is for the summer and is at least £36m.
This comes on the heels of Rory Smith heavily hinting that Liverpool wanted Konate as their summer signing.
“I think Liverpool intend to sign a centre-back in the summer and I think that central defender is probably someone they will play against in the Champions League’s Last 16. And I don’t think it’s going to be Dayot Upamecano,” he told Guardian Football Weekly.
Upamecano, of course, is the other highly-rated RB Leipzig centre-half. He too supposedly has a release clause – Kicker claim it’s around £39m and again for the summer.
Liverpool may prefer Konate, though. And in that case, his release clause will play a role.
What RTK has to say
Well, this is quite the development. Everyone knew about Upamecano’s release clause but Konate’s is new to us.
This also comes at a time when Liverpool have reportedly changed their mind on a January signing. They will try to get someone in the next few days.
Now, we can’t imagine that player will be Konate. He’s injured, for one thing, while RB Leipzig don’t have to sell just yet.
But it may make Liverpool think twice about signing anyone for the long-term. They won’t want to rule out getting Konate in the summer and so might look for a very short-term thing.
That could explain the apparent interest in Aaron Long from another Red Bull side in RB New York.
We will say this, though – there’s a major red flag with Konate. One that might just stop that £36m from being a bargain.
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