RB Leipzig senior officials now want to sell Naby Keita to Liverpool, according to Sky Sports.
The sports broadcaster reported the huge U-turn from the Bundesliga club in an update on their transfer centre on Sky Sports News on Monday afternoon, also uploaded on the transfer centre blog on their website (12.28pm).
Sky Sports claim Liverpool will imminently table a £60million bid for Keita in a fresh attempt to prise him from Leipzig.
Intriguingly, the Bundesliga club, who previously made it clear they had no intention of cashing in on their prize asset, are now said to have changed their stance, with key figures keen to sell the player.
Furthermore, the Merseysiders have been given strong encouragement that the midfielder, 22, has his heart set on moving to Anfield.
Amadou Makadji, who reports in Keita’s native Guinea for the site Foot 224, reported on his personal Twitter account on Saturday morning that Manchester City have joined the race to sign the midfielder but were told that he only wants to join Liverpool.
#Transfert Man #City a contacté l’agent de Naby #Keita pour doubler #Liverpool. Mais le Guinéen ne veut que les reds. City reste à l’affût. pic.twitter.com/3i5PI6Kaxi
— Amadou Makadji ???????? (@makadjiamadou) July 15, 2017
The fresh reports indicate that Liverpool are making real progress in their bid to sign Keita this summer rather than in 12 months’ time, which is when clubs can activate a release clause set at £48million.
Liverpool are said to be in the market for a commanding midfielder, centre-back and attacking midfielder after already tying up the signing of jet-heeled winger Mohamed Salah for a potential club-record £39million.
Keita has been targeted after taking the Bundesliga by storm following his arrival last summer from Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.
He was widely regarded as Leipzig’s outstanding player as his driving midfield displays inspired the team to a fourth-place league finish.