RB Leipzig sporting director Markus Krosche says Ibrahima Konate will not be sold to Liverpool.
The Reds have been forced to deal with a major crisis in the heart of defence this season after a season-ending injury to star man Virgil van Dijk was followed by Joe Gomez and then Joel Matip being ruled out for the rest of this campaign.
Jurgen Klopp moved to bring in Ozan Kabak on loan with an option to buy late in the January transfer window as Ben Davies also arrived from Preston on a permanent deal and Nathaniel Phillips stepped up to fill in.
Konate, 21, has been placed on a five-man transfer shortlist by Liverpool this summer.
"I think that this is not an option for Ibu," Krosche told Sky Sports of Konate , who has made 15 appearances in all competitions this season and has a contract at Leipzig until June 2023.
"He has a long contract with us and he knows what we mean to him and what he means to us.
"He was unlucky last year as he had a long-term injury but this year he is developing well and he is an extremely important player that has a lot of potential.
"We want to help him to develop further, and we play in Europe and have a very good team, so I don't see a reason for him to leave us."
Sky Germany report that Konate "is unhappy with the amount of playing time he has had under Julian Nagelsmann this season".
