Liverpool’s defenders have been warned that incoming signing Ibrahima Konate will ‘expect to start’ when he arrives at Anfield.
The RB Leipzig centre-back is reportedly on the Reds’ radar for the summer transfer market and has a release clause of just £35million.
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Konate, 22, is part of the France Under-21 squad for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which commences on May 31.
The move was made possible after a decision was made to reportedly NOT turn Ozan Kabak’s loan deal into a permanent move from Schalke after his disappointing six-month stint on Merseyside.
Jurgen Klopp is expected to return to another club from his home country to boost his defensive ranks, with ESPN claiming Konate has already passed a medical with Liverpool.
Before signing a reported five-year deal with the 2019 European champions, Konate will have undoubtedly sought assurances from Klopp regarding his playing time and how he may fit in alongside the returning Joe Gomez and Virgil van DIjk.
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And European football expect Kevin Hatchard warned the Liverpool backline to expect competition from a player accustomed to featuring alongside, rather than behind, superstar Dayot Upamecano.
“I think he would expect to play,” Hatchard told Hawksbee and Rushden. “He would expect to start, or certainly be in with a shot.
“He hasn’t played as much as he would have liked to this season and he has been in with a real battle this season at Leipzig.
“You have Upamecano, you’ve got Willi Orban – who is an excellent kind of nuts and bolts defender, does all the basics really well.
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“Guys like Marcel Halstenburg and Lukas Klostermann who can play those positions as well, so he is used to having to fight for a first team place.
“But he will expect to be in the mix.”
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