Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has been rewarded for his strong end to the season with a first call-up to the France national team.
And it provides further proof of why the £36million transfer Jurgen Klopp green-lit for his services last summer could well prove something of a bargain. Konate has been drafted into the France squad by coach Didier Deschamps to replace Manchester United defender Raphael Varane, who has a thigh problem.
The 23-year-old centre-back will join up with the party this weekend in Split ahead of France's UEFA Nations League game against Croatia on Monday. Konate will also be available for the game in Austria on Friday and the reverse fixture against Croatia three days later in Paris.