Keita signals he wants to leave Leipzig
Liverpool have been handed a boost that key target Naby Keita wants to join them this summer, despite RB Leipzig’s insistence that he will stay at the club.
The 22-year-old is one of Jurgen Klopp’s primary targets during the summer transfer window with the club prepared to make him their club record signing – albeit it have so-far baulked at the Bundesliga runners-up’s £70m valuation of the Guinean.
It is understood Keita himself wants to leave the club after helping Leipzig into the Champions League for the first time but the German club have so far been resolute in their stance.
And now Keita has seemingly reaffirmed that desire by subtly liking an Instagram post which depicts the Guinean in a Liverpool shirt.
However, while the club are sure that agreeing personal terms will not be a problem, it is negotiating with his club which they are having the most trouble with.
Sporting director Ralf Rangnick previously stated even an offer “in the three-digit range” would not be enough to persuade them to sell and that he expected all Leipzig’s key players to remain with the club this summer.
“We will definitely not be letting any key players go,” Rangnick had said. “There's nothing that will make us budge. It's totally normal for clubs to be interested in our players, but that doesn't affect our stance on the matter.”
Klopp is expected to be busy this summer as he attempts to build a squad capable of competing both in the Premier League and Champions League next term.
Mohamed Salah has already arrived in what could become a club record deal from Roma while Chelsea's Dominic Solanke has also joined following the end of his contract at Chelsea.
Reds boss Klopp is eyeing as many as seven new signings this offseason with Keita seen as a crucial piece of the recruitment drive.
Source: Independent
This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.