RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate denies talks on joining Liverpool

The Reds are most likely to go into the market to get a central defender after their key defensive players

Virgil van Dijk

,

Joe Gomez

, and

Joel Matip

got sidelined and missed a large portion of 2020/21 due to injury having the reigning

champs face a downhill in the current season.

Reports have connected Liverpool with a keen eye for Konate, who has a £40 million release clause, with somebody even venturing to say an arrangement between the two clubs is almost made. 

As indicated by 

, the 21-year-old, who has represented France's shirt up to U21 level, says that no contact has been made:

"There are a lot of rumours in football, and many believe them immediately.

"But neither me nor my representatives have received a call from Liverpool.

"In addition, I still have big goals with RB Leipzig.

"I have a contract until 2023, and contracts are there to be fulfilled."

Konate moved from Sochaux in 2017 and has played for Leipzig in 86 games; they lost 4-0 in total to Liverpool in the current season's

last 16. 

The Red Bulls of Germany have been Bayern Munich's nearest challengers in the

this season; however, with only five games remaining in the competition and a seven-point gap between the two sides, they look improbable to break Bavarians' eight-year reign in the league.  

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