Arsenal suffer Ibrahima Konate transfer blow to Liverpool

Arsenal have lost the race to sign Ibrahima Konate to Liverpool, with the Frenchman set to join the club in the summer transfer window for a fee in the region of €40m.

While Liverpool may have come first in this pursuit dripping with sweat and emptying their pockets, Arsenal barely got out of first gear and wouldn’t have overstretched themselves.

It was previously reported that Mikel Arteta’s side had the central defender on their shortlist come the end of the season, an interesting development given the sheer volume of centre-backs currently on the club’s books.

Two of those are producing nothing but glowing report cards from the southern regions of France and Germany, while closer to home Pablo Mari, Gabriel, David Luiz and Rob Holding have proven to a reliable quartet even if some of them are far from the ‘elite’ bracket.

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Arsenal suffer Ibrahima Konate transfer blow to Liverpool as RB Leipzig defender closes in on Anfield move

Thus, hearing of another right-sided centre-half drew some surprise as no club needs five for that position. Even if you’re regularly adopting a back three it’s a needless amount. Of course, Konstantinos Mavropanos could be loaned out once more, Luiz could be moved on and Calum Chambers, who can fill in there, may be sold. Bring Ibrahima Konate in during those circumstances and it’s five central defenders in total.

However, with Liverpool set to splash Konate’s full €40m release clause (The Athletic), Arsenal will have to look elsewhere.

It’s not a devastating blow, albeit the potential of the 21-year-old in the same ballpark as his RB Leipzig teammate Dayot Upamecano. He certainly makes less mistakes.

Arsenal will have tracked the Frenchman without serious zeal, simply having him on their list in case of various eventualities. Equally, they’d never throw €40m at an injury-prone centre-back when there are umpteen other areas of the squad in greater need of surgery.

Konate’s injury record is of concern and while he’s got immense ability and all the traits desired for a modern centre-back, perhaps his regular visits to the doctors office make him a perfect fit in a Jurgen Klopp defence.

What is worrying is the likelihood of this occurring again. Arsenal will have drawn up an extensive list of targets, many of whom they can’t secure without European football next season. More ‘races’ being lost are to be expected.