Liverpool have been given huge encouragement they can sign Naby Keita this month – provided they pay RB Leipzig a premium of up to £17.5million, according to Bild.
The German publication claim Leipzig chiefs have “softened” their stance on the central midfielder leaving for Anfield during the January transfer window following a chance in attitude of the player and what would be a shock move could happen “very fast”.
Bild report that Keita’s performances have dropped this season after his outstanding debut campaign and he is concentrating on learning English at the expense of German.
It is said that he has also become increasingly isolated in the Leipzig side, with concerns at his penchant for buying flash new cars.
Liverpool agreed last August a deal in excess of £50m that would see Keita spend another season in the Bundesliga before moving to Anfield in the summer.
However, Jurgen Klopp has been exploring the possibility of moving forward the Guinea international midfielder’s arrival to this transfer window following the £142million departure of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona.
Leipzig have been resistant to that suggestion given they are challenging for Champions League qualification and are preparing for the Europa League knockout stages.
Bild report that Leipzig would consider allowing Keita to leave this month for a fee of between £13million and £17.5million.
It suggests Leipzig need to generate extra revenue in order to not fall foul of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules.
Good move for Liverpool?
Yes, definitely. Keita is an upgrade on the current central midfielders at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal, all of whom are solid rather than spectacularly good. He is no replacement for Philippe Coutinho, but he would add bite, dynamism and goal potential to a Liverpool midfield that is rather one dimensional. Keita has not been as good in his second Leipzig campaign as in his stunning 2016-17 debut season, but he already has one eye on Anfield. It can only help the Reds if they can assimilate Keita into their team six months early.
This Is Futbol rating 8/10
Likely to happen?
There is now a very real possibility that Keita will arrive at Anfield this month after what represents a major U-turn from Leipzig, who only last week insisted the player would remain beyond the January window. A combination of factors are working towards pushing the midfielder to Liverpool early and, it seems, that the deal can go through in the coming weeks if the cash-rich Merseysiders pay the premium needed to seal the deal.
This Is Futbol rating 7/10