Liverpool have still not contacted RB Leipzig about signing Ibrahima Konate, according to The Athletic’s James Pearce.

Another journalist, Fabrizio Romano, has said the French defender has agreed a five-year deal and a transfer will be announced within weeks, but Pearce was far more conservative when asked about the possibility of the Reds snapping up the player this summer:

“It’s still not 100% done because that conversation with Leipzig hasn’t happened yet in terms of either negotiating a fee or just straight up paying his release clause. I think there is a realisation that is what has to happen – I don’t really see Leipzig letting him go for anything less than that release clause.”

This will raise concerns that the deal for Konate could still be hijacked. Both Chelsea and Manchester United have also been linked with the 21-year-old in recent months, so it will be hoped that neither team enters the reckoning.

It may be the case that Liverpool are just waiting to finalise all the other details before, as Pearce suggests, the club trigger the centre-back’s reported €35m (£30.5m) release clause.

The Reds’ move for Konate is designed to strengthen an area of the pitch which has been decimated by injuries this season, with three senior centre-backs having been sidelined for lengthy periods of time.