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RB Leipzig are reportedly ready to sell one of their prized assets who has been linked with Liverpool.
A defender who has been linked with a move to Liverpool is likely to be on the move this summer.
Sky Sports Germany suggests that Red Bull Leipzig are ready to cash in on Castello Lukeba. The centre-back has spent the past three seasons at Leipzig since his arrival from Olympique Lyonnais.
In total, Lukeba has made 97 appearances of Die Roten Bullen, scoring two goals. He has also been capped six times for France.
Leipzig are a club always open to sales and should they qualify for the Champions League for successive seasons. It is reported that the Saxony outfit are reluctant to sell talisman Yan Diomande, who is a potential replacement for Mo Salah at Liverpool, and instead are willing to offload Lukeba.
The 23-year-old has a release clause of £70 million in his contract, but Leipzig are reportedly willing to accept a fee of around £55-60 million.
Liverpool have been linked with Lukeba in the past. The Reds could be in the market for a new centre-back come the summer transfer window despite agreeing to sign Jeremy Jacquet for up to £60 million from Rennes.
Ibrahima Konate is out of contract at the end of the season and, as things stand, he will depart on a free transfer. In addition, Virgil van Dijk’s contract expires in 2027 and he turns 35 in July, while Joe Gomez - who has had injury problems over the past few years - also sees his deal conclude next year.
Liverpool also have Giovanni Leoni, signed for £26 million from Parma last summer, but he is recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament suffered on his debut last September.
Given Jacquet and Leoni are just 20 and 19 respectively, Liverpool may feel they need a more experienced operator who still has his best years ahead. Lukeba fits that bracket, while the Reds have a sound rapport with Leipzig, having signed Konate, Dominik Szoboszlai and Naby Keita from the Bundesliga side in the past.
On Lukeba’s qualities, The Scouting App said: “In terms of his football skills, he is a left-footed central defender who stands out for his physical and technical qualities. Physically, he is an agile, fast, strong and powerful player, which makes him a great last defender, with an enormous ability to win duels, both aerial and on the ground, and also to correct actions in open spaces.
“Technically, he is a defender with great ball control with his left foot. Good passing range, both short and long, and fairly good vision.”
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