<p>Liverpool's Premier League title defence was undermined by a series of injuries at the centre back position and while the club are reportedly keen on RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate the Bundesliga side have issued a "hands off" warning.</p>.<p>Liverpool were handed a massive blow when Virgil Van Dijk was lost to a season-ending injury in October, and then suffered more injury woes when fellow centre backs Joe Gomez and Joel Matip went down.</p>.<p><em>The Athletic </em>said on Monday Liverpool were close to finalising a deal for Konate, whose contract reportedly contains a release clause of around 40 million euros ($47.07 million), but Leipzig director Markus Krosche said the 21-year-old France youth international has a big future ahead of him in Germany.</p>.<p>"I think that this is not an option for Ibu," Krosche said of Konate, who has made 15 appearances in all competitions this season and has a contract at Leipzig until June 2023.</p>.<p>"He has a long contract with us and he knows what we mean to him and what he means to us.</p>.<p>"He was unlucky last year as he had a long-term injury but this year he is developing well and he is an extremely important player that has a lot of potential.</p>.<p>"We want to help him to develop further, and we play in Europe and have a very good team, so I don’t see a reason for him to leave us."</p>.<p>Leipzig are second in the Bundesliga with 57 points, four behind Bayern Munich, who they host on Saturday.</p>
<p>Liverpool's Premier League title defence was undermined by a series of injuries at the centre back position and while the club are reportedly keen on RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate the Bundesliga side have issued a "hands off" warning.</p>.<p>Liverpool were handed a massive blow when Virgil Van Dijk was lost to a season-ending injury in October, and then suffered more injury woes when fellow centre backs Joe Gomez and Joel Matip went down.</p>.<p><em>The Athletic </em>said on Monday Liverpool were close to finalising a deal for Konate, whose contract reportedly contains a release clause of around 40 million euros ($47.07 million), but Leipzig director Markus Krosche said the 21-year-old France youth international has a big future ahead of him in Germany.</p>.<p>"I think that this is not an option for Ibu," Krosche said of Konate, who has made 15 appearances in all competitions this season and has a contract at Leipzig until June 2023.</p>.<p>"He has a long contract with us and he knows what we mean to him and what he means to us.</p>.<p>"He was unlucky last year as he had a long-term injury but this year he is developing well and he is an extremely important player that has a lot of potential.</p>.<p>"We want to help him to develop further, and we play in Europe and have a very good team, so I don’t see a reason for him to leave us."</p>.<p>Leipzig are second in the Bundesliga with 57 points, four behind Bayern Munich, who they host on Saturday.</p>