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#2 Ibrahima Konate
Having recognized his potential at the back of a dozen performances for Sochaux, RB Leipzig purchased 19-year-old French teenager Ibrahima Konate in the summer of 2017. An injury to club captain Willi Orban paved the way for his inclusion in the starting eleven alongside compatriot Dayot Upamecano.
Through a fascinating concoction of incredible natural ability and an extremely unique skill-set, Konate has made the centre-back position his own and is an integral cog at the heart of Die Roten Bulen's defence.
A classic exemplar of what a modern defender stands for, the Ivorian's colossal array of abilities make him an extremely enticing vendible amongst clubs looking to build their defence for the foreseeable future.
Incredible dribbling skills help him make progressive surges with the ball at his feet, piercing through the heart of the pitch and advancing play from the defensive third to the final third. This, coupled with the ability to break lines with incisive, beautifully weighted passes add to Konate's enviable armory of skills.
The Parisian will be capable of fortifying Arsenal's back-line irrespective of the framework he finds himself in due to his athletic frame which helps him gain supremacy when pitted against physical specimens, whilst his pace and acceleration from a static position ensures that he can chase and keep up with balls played in behind the defence whilst operating in a high-line.
Konate is adept at winning offensive duels, courtesy of his 6'2" frame, and is fouled more often than his contemporaries because of how involved he is in constructing play.
It'll be interesting to see if Leipzig are willing to part with their prized asset, given his superb performances in the Rückrunde and the prospect of him forming a formidable partnership with Upamecano which can aid Leipzig for years the come.
Arsenal scouts have been present at various Leipzig games through the course of the season and Emery is believed to be a huge admirer of the French teenager.
There's no doubt that Konate would bring an entirely new dimension to the Gunners' back-line. A sumptuous blend of physical and technical attributes can help him ensconce his name in the heart of Arsenal's defense for years to come if Emery decides to bite the bullet and convince the Leipzig starlet to move over to north London.
