Ibrahima Konate has been backed to be a big hit with Liverpool after being hailed as a “fantastic defender” by one of his former team-mates.
Following a season in which his centre-back options were decimated by a series of injuries with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all sidelined for prolonged periods and even auxiliary replacements such as Jordan Henderson and Fabinho joining them on the treatment table, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp prioritised the position this summer.
Konate became the Reds first signing of the window having triggered his £36million release clause to take him from RB Leipzig.
Cameroon-born Switzerland international goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo played alongside the France Under-21s star with the Bundesliga side and has tipped him to shine at Anfield.
The Mirror quote Mvogo – who spent the 2020/21 season on loan at PSV Eindhoven – as saying: “Ibra Konate is just such a fantastic defender.
“He had some injuries this year so he couldn’t show his full potential.
“He’s one of the best young defenders I have seen in my career and I just wish him all the best at Liverpool.
“I’m sure he will succeed there and show everyone what a great player he is.
“I know he has all the attributes needed to do well in the Premier League. He has all the strengths a defender needs.”
Mvogo also believes that despite Konate’s relative inexperience, he has only just turned 22 and made less than 100 senior appearances for Leipzig, he has the right personality to shine at Liverpool.
He added: “Ibra is a fantastic human being, really lovely, someone who is really kind and always there for you.
“It doesn’t matter if you play for the club or work for the club, he’s the same with everyone. He’s just such a lovely person and I wish him the best.”
