Liverpool have been installed as the clear bookmakers’ favourites to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita.
Sky Bet priced the Merseyside giants at 11/10 on Thursday night to land the Bundesliga sensation before the transfer window shuts on 3 September.
Liverpool are a long way clear in the betting of the next-best priced clubs, who are Bayern Munich (10/1), Tottenham, Chelsea, Juventus and Monaco (all 16/1).
The latest prices, which make it narrowly more likely at 4/5 that Keita will remain at Leipzig, comes after intense speculation in recent weeks that Liverpool are prepared to shatter their transfer record to sign the 22-year-old.
Guardian Sport’s deputy news editor Ed Aarons reported on his personal Twitter account on Monday that the Merseysiders’ pursuit of the central midfielder, 22, is “gaining momentum”.
Liverpool move for Naby Keita is gaining momentum but reports RB Leipzig want £70m #lfc
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) June 26, 2017
Reports in Germany earlier this week stated that the Bundesliga outfit have slapped a £70million price tag on the head of the Guinea international, although Leipzig’s public stance is simply that they want to hold on to Keita for at least another season.
Reports in the UK media have strongly linked Liverpool to a summer swoop for the dynamic midfielder, who made a huge impact at Leipzig as goalscorer and creator since joining from Red Bull Salzburg last summer.
His 31 league appearances from a relatively deep position yielded eight goals and eight assists, and the 18-times international was a key player as his team qualified for a Champions League place.
Liverpool have already made two signings this summer, paying a club-record £39million for winger Mohamed Salah from Roma last week and agreeing to buy young forward Dominic Solanke from Chelsea.