Former Anfield hero Peter Crouch is confident that summer signing Ibrahima Konate could prove to be a very great purchase for his former side who will be looking to reclaim Premier League glory in the forthcoming campaign.
Jurgen Klopp made his first signing of the summer window in the 22-year-old Konate who arrives at Anfield on a five-year-long deal from Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig in a move that has significantly bolstered Liverpool’s defensive options.
The previous season was an injury-ravaged one for the Anfield outfit who lost Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip to season-ending layoffs which forced Klopp to field his midfield players Fabinho and Jordan Henderson as makeshift central defenders.
With the purchase of Konate and Van Dijk and Co. expected to return to full fitness in time for the new season, Crouch reckons that the new Anfield recruit is something that was required by Jurgen Klopp after last seasons’ hard luck on the injury front.
Crouch, while speaking to the Liverpool Echo, said that despite Konate being a far shot away from being termed a veteran defender, the young Frenchman was still a solid addition to the existing centre-back names on Merseyside.
“Ibrahima Konate is a top signing for Liverpool. I like him as a defender and Liverpool needed someone, let’s be honest,” he said.
“Joe Gomez’s and Joel Matip’s injury records have not been good at all. Plus, after Virgil van Dijk’s long injury absence, we don’t know what kind of player he’s going to return as.
“It might take Virgil some time to come back to his best, and Liverpool need someone who’s ready now.
“They needed more experience at the back. Konate isn’t a veteran by any means but has played in plenty of big games.”
