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Pep Guardiola set to steal Barcelona’s key transfer target from RB Leipzig

By Aaditya Sibal

DORTMUND, GERMANY - DECEMBER 01: Ibrahima Konate of Leipzig looks on during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Sport-Club Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park on December 01, 2018 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY - DECEMBER 01: Ibrahima Konate of Leipzig looks on during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Sport-Club Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park on December 01, 2018 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /
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Pep Guardiola has taken the lead from Barcelona and Real Madrid to sign a young star from RB Leipzig.

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Ibrahima Konate joins his teammate Dayot Upamecano as another player from RB Leipzig who is linked with a transfer with many prominent European teams such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Konate is a 20-year-old French central defender who plays for RB Leipzig. The defender started his career playing for Sochaux in the Ligue 2 which is the second division of French football. In the 2016-2017 season, he played 13 games for his side. Over this season he didn’t show signs of improving as a player and left as a free transfer.

RB Leipzig believed that the young defender had great potential and signed him in the 2017-2018 season. In Konate’s first season he recorded 16 Bundesliga appearances and worked on affirming himself as a regular starter for his side. The 2018-2019 season was the breakaway season for the young Frenchman as he established himself as a regular starter for his side. He played 43 games in all competitions and was an integral part of RB Leipzig’s run in the DFB-Pokal in which he helped his club reach the finals. Konate hasn’t played most of this season due to a torn muscle injury.

Despite his long term injury, this season many experts believe have set his value to be around 60 million Euros. According to the Don Balon, Manchester City has stunned Barcelona and Real Madrid who were heavily linked with the player by negotiating a contract with his agent. In these negotiations, Pep has promised the young defender a place in his starting eleven on a regular basis.

Manchester City have had their defensive issues this season and that has been a chief cause for their lapse behind Liverpool. Nicolas Otamendi is growing old and the Citizens haven’t even managed to replace Vincent Kompany since his departure last season as yet. John Stones is also prone to injuries, and therefore a central defender’s signing has been overdue for the defending Premier League champions.

Next. Barcelona must strengthen their squad by signing Premier League duo. dark

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