Liverpool to sign Konate, what does that mean for Kabak

By Ben Browning


Published: May 25, 2021 3:03 pm

Last Updated: May 25, 2021 3:04 pm

Konate joining the reds

Liverpool are set to trigger RB Leipzig centre back Ibrahima Konate’s €41 million release clause this summer as they seek defensive reinforcement, according to a report from The Athletic.

The Red’s title defence was derailed by early defensive injuries to Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, which left inexperienced pair Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams to fill in, whilst Fabinho and Jordan Henderson also deputised.

However, it seems that Jurgen Klopp has made a centre-back his first priority this summer, with rumours persisting since January linking Ibrahima Konate with a move to Merseyside. And it appears as though it is finally confirmed, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano confirming that the deal was well underway.

Ibrahima Konaté to Liverpool, done deal. Medicals already completed days ago. #LFC are gonna trigger €35m release clause in the next days and announce the signing from RB Leipzig. Here we go confirmed. 🔴 #LFC

Personal terms agreed since April 23 – contract until June 2026. https://t.co/j4codIsBnD

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 25, 2021

No desire to make Kabak permanent

With Konate seemingly on his way to England, one loser from this deal will be Ozan Kabak. The young Turkish defender joined Liverpool on loan from Schalke in January, and went on to appear nine times in the Premier League for Klopp’s side.

🔴 Liverpool intend to pay Ibrahima Konate €41m release clause
🔴 Must be up front, no instalments
🔴 #LFC not signing Ozan Kabak permanently (was option to buy for £18m + add-ons in loan)
🔴 No decision yet on Phillips
With @JamesPearceLFC @TheAthleticUKhttps://t.co/n8CpLFu0tA

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) May 25, 2021

However, David Ornstein reports that the option to buy (£18 million) will be one that Liverpool will be declining, meaning that Kabak will be returning to Germany.

To make matters worse, his parent side Schalke were relegated from the Bundesliga this season, meaning that Kabak could well go from playing Real Madrid in the Champions League to playing in the 2.Bundesliga in a matter of months.

However, the Turk will be hoping that his performances for Liverpool, combined with a strong showing at the Euros this summer, will win him a move to a top-flight side before the season begins.

This article was edited by
Ben Browning.

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Premier League table

#	Team	MP	D	P
1	Manchester City FC	38	51	86
2	Manchester United FC	38	29	74
3	Liverpool FC	38	26	69
4	Chelsea FC	38	22	67
5	Leicester City FC	38	18	66
6	West Ham United FC	38	15	65
7	Tottenham Hotspur FC	38	23	62
8	Arsenal FC	38	16	61
9	Leeds United	38	8	59
10	Everton FC	38	-1	59
11	Aston Villa FC	38	9	55
12	Newcastle United FC	38	-16	45
13	Wolverhampton Wanderers FC	38	-16	45
14	Crystal Palace FC	38	-25	44
15	Southampton FC	38	-21	43
16	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	38	-6	41
17	Burnley FC	38	-22	39
18	Fulham FC	38	-26	28
19	West Bromwich Albion	38	-41	26
20	Sheffield United FC	38	-43	23

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Player	Team	Goals
Kane, Harry	Tottenham Hotspur FC	23
Salah, Mohamed	Liverpool FC	22
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United FC	17
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur FC	17
Bamford, Patrick	Leeds United	17
Calvert-Lewin, Dominic	Everton FC	16
Vardy, Jamie	Leicester City FC	15
Watkins, Ollie	Aston Villa FC	14
Gundogan, Ilkay	Manchester City FC	13
Lacazette, Alexandre	Arsenal FC	13
Wilson, Callum	Newcastle United FC	12
Ings, Danny	Southampton FC	12
Wood, Chris	Burnley FC	12
Iheanacho, Kelechi	Leicester City FC	12
Rashford, Marcus	Manchester United FC	11
Mane, Sadio	Liverpool FC	11
Pereira, Matheus	West Bromwich Albion	11
Bale, Gareth	Tottenham Hotspur FC	11
Zaha, Wilfried	Crystal Palace FC	11
Sterling, Raheem	Manchester City FC	10

Player	Team	Red Cards	Yellow Cards
McGinn, John	Aston Villa FC	0	12
Gallagher, Conor	West Bromwich Albion	0	11
Maguire, Harry	Manchester United FC	0	11
Phillips, Kalvin	Leeds United	0	10
Hojbjerg, Pierre	Tottenham Hotspur FC	0	9
Milivojevic, Luka	Crystal Palace FC	1	8
Lundstram, John	Sheffield United FC	1	8
Luiz, Douglas	Aston Villa FC	0	8
Holgate, Mason	Everton FC	0	9
Bissouma, Yves	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	1	8
Soucek, Tomas	West Ham United FC	1	7
Shaw, Luke	Manchester United FC	0	8
Xhaka, Granit	Arsenal FC	1	7
Bellerin, Hector	Arsenal FC	0	8
Andersen, Joachim	Fulham FC	1	7
Egan, John	Sheffield United FC	1	7
Hayden, Isaac	Newcastle United FC	0	8
Dallas, Stuart	Leeds United	0	7
McGoldrick, David	Sheffield United FC	0	7
Reid, Bobby	Fulham FC	0	7

Player	Team	Assists
Kane, Harry	Tottenham Hotspur FC	14
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United FC	12
De Bruyne, Kevin	Manchester City FC	11
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur FC	10
Grealish, Jack	Aston Villa FC	10
Rashford, Marcus	Manchester United FC	9
Raphinha	Leeds United	9
Vardy, Jamie	Leicester City FC	8
Mane, Sadio	Liverpool FC	8
Harrison, Jack	Leeds United	8
Werner, Timo	Chelsea FC	8
Gross, Pascal	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	8
Cresswell, Aaron	West Ham United FC	8
Pereira, Matheus	West Bromwich Albion	7
Sterling, Raheem	Manchester City FC	7
Firmino, Roberto	Liverpool FC	7
Ward-Prowse, James	Southampton FC	7
Eze, Eberechi	Crystal Palace FC	7
Alexander-Arnold, Trent	Liverpool FC	7
Robertson, Andrew	Liverpool FC	7

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