Manchester United have reportedly contacted the representatives of RB Leipzig centre-back Ibrahima Konate, to initiate a summer transfer to Old Trafford.
The 20-year-old centre-back moved to the German club in 2017, and has blossomed into one of the most promising defenders in Europe, alongside compatriot, Dayot Upamecano.
According to Le10 Sport, the Red Devils have spoken to the player’s representatives about his desire to move to the Premier League side in the summer.
Konate joined Leipzig from Sochaux in 2017, and signed a new deal with the German side last year. His current deal will expire only in 2023.
He has made over 70 appearances for the club in all competitions, but has played just 8 times in all competitions this season. This was due to an injury he suffered which kept him out for the majority of the season.
Ibrahima Konate – A good addition to Manchester United
Manchester United’s transfer policy seems to focus on young players who have the potential to be world-class stars, as well as those that fit the United ethos.
Jadon Sancho is one player Manchester United have been heavily linked with, and another young player in the Bundesliga that has the potential to be a very good player is Ibrahima Konate.
While Dayot Upamecano has drawn all the plaudits at Leipzig, Konate is not far behind. The 6’4″ centre- back is strong, tall and powerful, and is a commanding presence at the back.
Upamecano is a ball-playing defender, who is quick – with and without the ball, while Konate is phenomenal in the air and stops attacks with a great reading from the back. The latter is also a good short passer, as he moves the ball quickly, and averages 51.4 passes per game in the league this season.
Konate could be a very good signing for Manchester United, and he could form a great partnership with captain Harry Maguire. The former could be the defensive wall, while the latter could bring the ball out and start attacks from the back.
The signing of Konate would only strengthen the Manchester United defence and give manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plenty of options with the likes of Victor Lindelof, Axel Tuanzebe and Eric Bailly all vying for the two centre- back spots.
For his age and ability, Konate would be a pretty impressive addition to the Manchester United squad.