RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate has reportedly undergone the first part of his Liverpool medical ahead of a potential £40m switch to Anfield.
The 21-year-old defender is a rising star in the Bundesliga but even his most ardent supporters would admit he remains a work in progress.
Now French outlet RMC claim a deal is getting close and Konate has even completed some formalities ahead of a move this summer.
Jurgen Klopp identified the France U21 international as the perfect option to bolster the Reds' rearguard with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez returning from long-term knee injuries.
It's been a nightmare season but the charismatic German is hell-bent on making sure his side bounce back immediately next time around.
But despite swirling speculation, Leipzig sporting director Markus Krosche insists he believes he can keep hold of the rising star even if his buyout clause is met.
He said: “I do not think that this is an option for Ibu. He has a long contract with us, he knows what he means to us and what we mean to him.
"He was unlucky last season with a long injury, but this year, he is developing well and is an extremely important player with a lot of potential.
"We want to help him to develop further and we have a very good team, so I don’t see a reason why he would leave us.”
