Two months on and Liverpool have all but wrapped up a deal for Konate, according to The Athletic. The Premier League champions are expected to pay the 21-year-old's release clause, which is thought to be around £34million. Liverpool's sporting director and transfer guru Michael Edwards has close relations with Leipzig and the Red Bull group. But Liverpool moving to the front of the queue to sign the centre-back, and being on the verge of triggering his release clause, is no coincidence. French defender Konate, 21, is now an affordable option, and it seems Edwards' contacts and negotiation skills are the reason for this.

Source: Daily Mirror March 29, 2021 08:31 UTC