Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he has been an admirer of the club’s new recruit Ibrahim Konate for a long time and is delighted to see him arrive at Anfield ahead of the new season.
The 22-year-old Konate has signed on a five-year-long deal with the Merseyside Reds after weeks of negotiations between Liverpool and RB Leipzig over the France U21 international centre-back.
Speaking to the club’s official website following Konate’s move becoming official, Klopp voiced his praises for the Frenchman’s ability at the back with the Liverpool gaffer noting that the now ex-Leipzig man possessed commendable physical traits while being quick on the pitch.
“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.”
“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, Rhys and Ozan 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.
“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’s move to Merseyside this summer is bound to mean that Liverpool have decided against triggering Ozan Kabak’s buy-out clause which would have meant the Turk becoming a permanent part of Jurgen Klopp’s plans for the new season.
Kabak is set to fly back to Germany in the coming days with the Schalke loanee subject to much interest from a number of clubs in England and abroad one of whom are speculated to be Konate’s former side RB Leipzig.
