RB Leipzig centre-back Ibrahima Konate will be joining Liverpool “very soon” according to German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine.

There have been some doubts about the Frenchman’s move to Anfield in recent days, with Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff stating that “no decision has been made” on the player’s future.

Numerous reporters, both in Germany and England, are insistent that Konate’s switch is close to being finalised. Respected transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has stated that the 21-year-old has already agreed a five-year contract and the transfer will go through.

Even so, the missing piece of the jigsaw is the transfer fee. The Athletic‘s James Pearce has confirmed that the Reds have yet to trigger the centre-half’s €35m (£30m) release clause, but there is a belief that this will happen within the next two weeks.

It’s definitely a strange situation as it seems Liverpool are holding out on tabling a formal offer until the last moment, and fans will worry that other clubs, such as Chelsea and Manchester United, may look to muscle in on the deal if they don’t make a move soon.