Konate became Liverpool’s first signing of the summer when the deal was announced last month.

 

Following a season of defensive issues, Jurgen Klopp will hope that the 21-year-old will add more meat and depth to his options at the back going forward.

 

 

Bekhti coached Konate at Paris FC and played a significant role in turning him into a centre-back at the start of his career.

 

And he admits that he is not surprised to see the defender move to Liverpool as he believes joining such a big club was the logical next step for his career.

 

 

He is proud of the way Konate has developed over the years and admits that he feels happy that he played a part in helping him reach the heights he has attained.

 

Bekhti told The Athletic: “The move to Liverpool doesn’t surprise me.

 

 

“It is a logical continuation for his career.

 

“He has never stopped progressing from Sochaux to Leipzig and today to Liverpool.

 

“He has never stopped working to get there and I am very proud of him and his career.

 

“He is a humble and hardworking man — he deserves it.

 

“There’s great pride for me to have been able to contribute to his progress and his journey and to see him playing for such a big club like Liverpool next season will be a pleasure.”

 

It remains to be seen whether Konate slots straight into the Liverpool starting eleven alongside Virgil van Dijk at the start of next season.