Ibrahima Konate reacts to playing against former club RB Leipzig in the Champions League for Liverpool

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Liverpool and RB Leipzig have had a relatively close relationship when it comes to the transfer market in recent times.

The Reds have bought three players from the German club since 2018. That can not be a coincidence.

If current rumours are to be believed, then Liverpool could soon look to make that four. There have been claims that Liverpool are looking at Castello Lukeba ahead of a move next year.

Lukeba had an audition for that potential transfer on Wednesday night and fared relatively well against the Reds attack.

Should Liverpool decide to pull the trigger on the 21-year-old, it would have very obvious shades about the deal to sign Ibrahima Konate in 2022.

Konate was also 22 when he joined Liverpool for £35m, the same age Lukeba will turn in November. Since then, the Frenchman has blossomed into one of the best defenders in Europe. And after visiting his old home in the Champions League, Konate was a little emotional.

Ibrahima Konate reacts to RB Leipzig return

Konate has been in stunning form this season. After a difficult end to the last campaign, there had been a certain amount of question marks over the 25-year-old’s position in the team.

But having began the season on the bench, Konate has since made himself a key man for Arne Slot.

Ibou has started 10 out of 11 games since that opening day benching, scoring twice and becoming a rock next to Virgil van Dijk.

It had been expected that Slot might rest Konate for Jarell Quansah in Leipzig, but the France international he was given the full 90 minutes against the club he spent three years at.

READ MORE: Liverpool fans give verdict on Castello Lukeba’s display against them after transfer links

It was another good display from Konate who showed the watching Leipzig fans what they’d been missing over the past three years.

And taking to Instagram after the game, the centre-back shared his delight at being able to return to a place that ‘means so much’ to him.

“Nice feeling to see some familiar faces and play against a team that means so much to me!” Konate posted.

Arne Slot needs to be careful with Ibrahima Konate

Although his form dipped at the end of last season, there has never really been any real doubt over the quality of Konate.

Since his arrival at Anfield he has more than done enough to show that he’s capable of being a long-term starter for Liverpool.

Rather, the biggest question over Ibou has been one of fitness. So far this season, he has managed to stay free of any kind of issue at all.

But having been asked to play so much by Slot, Reds supporters will be worried that a problem may be just around the corner for Konate.

As a result of Sunday’s big game against Arsenal, we would have probably rested the No.5 for Wednesday’s visit to Leipzig. There’s absolutely no chance that Konate won’t be playing at the Emirates. Following that, you’d imagine he’d be given a rest in the Carabao Cup against Brighton, but Slot might want to think about leaning a little less on Ibou during this hectic period.