Liverpool are reportedly ready to break their club transfer record to land heavily sought-after RB Leipzig superstar Naby Keita, also a target for Chelsea.
According to Daily Mirror, Liverpool are ready to splash the big bucks in order to land Rasenballsport Leipzig superstar Naby Keita in the summer. The Reds are willing to even break their club transfer record and move fast to secure the services of the Guinea international.
Naby Keita has blossomed into one of the best playmakers on display currently in the Bundesliga after securing a move from the Austrian franchise, RB Salzburg in the summer of 2016.
The 22-year-old’s rise has truly been spectacular as the midfield stalwart has been one of the cornerstones of Leipzig’s unbridled success in their maiden Bundesliga campaign. 8 goals and 8 assists in the Bundesliga does not do justice to the talented playmaker.
His displays, though, have been nothing short of stellar as he has become highly wanted by the top clubs in Europe. The Premier League, especially, has been targeting Naby Keita, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal all linked with the player while Bayern Munich are also reported to be interested in him.
Chelsea need a central midfielder to partner N’Golo Kante in the middle of the park, despite the heroics of Nemanja Matic this season. Naby Keita has the ability to fill the void potentially left by Nemanja Matic while also being an able contributor upfront – a talent that will come in handy as Chelsea aim to defend their Premier League crown.
Naby Keita: Only Ousmane Dembele (103) completed more dribbles than Keita (83) in the Bundesliga this season pic.twitter.com/irqLRraaxl
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 26, 2017
Liverpool have been linked with a £50m move for Naby Keita. All you need to know about the RB Leipzig midfielder: https://t.co/wlXEoW1F67 pic.twitter.com/fGjFpu8jby
— Sky Football ⚽️ (@SkyFootball) May 26, 2017
However, it is Liverpool that had been linked the most consistently with the 22-year-old. Jurgen Klopp needs to reinforce the midfield with better ball-players if they are to challenge for the title next season while also aiming to make a run in the Champions League.
The Reds were in contact with the player’s representatives last summer as well. However, it is now reported that the Merseyside club are ready to break the bank and the club’s transfer record not once but a few times this summer. And Naby Keita is on top of their list.
The 22-year-old would be able to adapt well into Klopp’s plans at Anfield and could be an able part of the manager’s new guard at the historic club. Liverpool are ready to meet the £50 million asking price – a price tag which has been slapped by RB Leipzig.
The report adds that the club is already in talks with the player over a move and are ready to meet the player’s wage demands of around £120,000 per-week. The aforementioned fee would see Liverpool surpass their previous transfer record – a £38 million move to bring Andy Carroll to Anfield.
It would be interesting to see whether Chelsea, Arsenal or Bayern come in with an offer and challenge Liverpool for Naby Keita. For now, though, the Reds are comfortably in the driver’s seat to land the 22-year-old and the midfielder looks set to be Klopp’s first signing of the summer.