The odds have been slashed on Liverpool signing RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita this summer, according to the latest bookmakers’ prices.
Sky Bet priced the Merseyside giants as emphatic 1/6 favourites on Saturday afternoon to capture the Bundesliga midfielder before the transfer window shuts on 3 September.
Liverpool are the only club listed in the betting odds, with the only other market offered that of Keita staying at Leipzig, which is now priced at a relatively distant 7/2.
The odds have been slashed on Jurgen Klopp’s side signing Keita in the last 13 days, with Sky Bet pricing them at 4/9 on 2 July to sign the 22-year-old.
This comes after widespread speculation that Liverpool are still pushing hard to sign Keita despite Leipzig’s firm public stance that they will not cash in on their prize asset.
The Merseysiders appear to have been encouraged by the reported stance of the 22-year-old that he has his heart set on moving to Anfield and has made that clear to officials of the Bundesliga club.
Keita can be prised from Leipzig in the summer of 2018 due to a release clause applicable at that point which is set at £48million.
Liverpool have already made one major splash in this summer’s transfer market by paying £34million rising to a potential £39million to take Mohamed Salah from Roma last month.
Like Salah, Keita had an outstanding 2016-2017 domestic campaign both as goalscorer and creator following his arrival from Red Bull Salzburg last summer.
His 31 league appearances from a relatively deep position yielded eight goals and eight assists as he helped Leipzig clinch a Champions League group stage place.
The midfield goal machine also demonstrated his pedigree in front of goal in 2015-16 at former club Red Bull Salzburg, scoring 14 goals from 37 matches in all competitions.