Liverpool would love to fill the hole left by the departing Philippe Coutinho with Naby Keita while the transfer window is ajar this month, but it’s going to cost them.
The Reds have already agreed a pre-contract £55m transfer with RB Leipzig for the Guinean midfielder this summer, but with Klopp’s men hopeful of progression in the Champions League and pushing for a top four finish in the Premier League, it would be a huge boost if they could ship him to Anfield sooner.
However, German newspaper Bild claims that Leipzig want at least an additional £18m to consider the option, despite statements from the Bundesliga club claiming he is going nowhere.
“OFFICIAL: Naby Keita will remain an RB Leipzig player until 30th June 2018,” it said. “We wish to put the speculation about a January move to Liverpool to bed.”
Ralf Rangnick, Leipzig’s Sports Director, added: “We do not give Naby Keita an early start, even though Liverpool have once again laid down his interest in him to sign him in this transfer window. As everyone knows, we are not a sales club.
“That would only have been possible if we had reached an amicable solution in the sense of an exorbitant additional transfer payment.
“This is not the case and so we have decided to end this topic. Naby and his advisor also accepted this decision.”
Will FSG sanction an additional £18 from the Coutinho fund? Do Liverpool even need Keita or are they doing well enough as it is?