RB Leipzig have reportedly slapped an €80 million price tag upon midfielder Naby Keita who has been a long-time Liverpool target.
According to a report by Bild, Liverpool will have to muster a whopping €80 million if they are to secure a deal for RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita. The German club appear to be reluctant to sell one of their key players since his current contract will last until 2020 and that explains the steep asking price.
Keita has been a part of Jurgen Klopp‘s list for the summer since he wants to strengthen his midfield ranks ahead of Premier League and Champions League commitments next season. However, Leipzig will hope they can retain him since they fared well in their Bundesliga campaign and also qualified for next season’s Champions League.
If Liverpool manage to cough up the amount, they will break their transfer record for the second time this summer after signing Mohamed Salah from AS Roma for £36.9 million.
It would also become the second-most expensive signing in the history of English football, the first being the £89 million Manchester United paid for Paul Pogba last year.
22-year-old Keita has been a pillar of strength as RB Leipzig transitioned effectively into employing a speedier attacking style which allowed their strikers to flourish. Adept at disrupting opposition attacks, Keita also has the capacity to push a through ball into the danger area for the forwards to capitalize upon.
The Guinea international is versatile and can play central, attacking or defensive midfield which can only benefit Jurgen Klopp. The Merseyside manager has used a 4-3-3 formation for a good majority of his career with specific roles for midfielders and Keita can do well in any of those roles.
Keita’s high energy levels can suit the high intensity of Klopp’s general style of play and the Guinean can also make worthy contributions in both halves.
Additionally, the young midfielder can offer competition to several Liverpool players if he does join Anfield this summer. Klopp can either use him in the attacking midfield, which is highly unlikely given the current squad status of Adam Lallana or in a more withdrawn central position.
Doing so will push Emre Can out of the playing eleven while Wijnaldum and Keita perform the box-to-box roles and Phillipe Coutinho can operate behind two strikers.
