Liverpool Rumors: Reds To Still Offer Dismissive 'Top Target' Long-Term Deal, Transfer Insider Says

Liverpool could be working on a huge transfer move for one of its top prospects this offseason, reports suggest.

Last month, The Athletic‘s David Ornstein reported that Liverpool is already “finalizing” a deal for RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate. Since then, things have gone quiet between both parties.

However, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano, who has been a credible source of soccer transfer news, recently reported that the Reds are still set to table a long-term offer for Konate.

“Liverpool are still working to reach an agreement with Ibrahima Konaté,” Romano tweeted. “He’s one of the ‘top targets’ in the list and #LFC [Liverpool FC] will be offering a five-years contract. Not done or agreed, as of today. RB Leipzig will only sell Konaté if the full release clase will be paid.”

Contrary to the reports from the two famed transfer insiders, however, the RB Leipzig rising star earlier insisted that he is not open to leaving the Bundesliga club at the moment.

According to Konate, everything that has been said about him and Liverpool were all “rumors.” None of his representatives have received a “call” from the English Premier League club.

“There are often rumors in football and many believe them immediately,” Konate recently told German outlet Bild. “I or my agents didn’t get a call from Liverpool.”

Further addressing his current situation, the 21-year-old emphasized that he has envisioned himself winning at RB Leipzig.

“I also have big goals with RB Leipzig,” the Frenchman pointed out. “These are currently the best possible results in the Bundesliga, reaching the cup final and the U21 European Championship with France.”

“I don’t want to be Dayot [Upamecano]’s successor,” he continued. “I’m me. We both came to Leipzig in 2017 and played well together here.“I have a contract until 2023. And contracts are there to fulfill.”

RB Leipzig sporting director Markus Krösche, on the other hand, refused to comment on Konate’s link-up to Liverpool.

However, Krösche suggested that the youngster is likely to spend more seasons with the Bundesliga side.

"I can't say anything on that topic," Krösche told Stats Perform News of Konate’s Liverpool link-ups in March. "I think that this is not an option for Ibu [Konate]. 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 longer injury but this year he is in a good way and he is an extremely important player that has a lot of potential,” the director continued. "We want to help him to further develop, and we play internationally, have a very good team, so I don't see a reason for him to leave us."