Liverpool reached an agreement with RB Leipzig last summer for Naby Keita to join the Reds this July.
Liverpool may be getting their man a few months early. Following Philippe Coutinho’s departure to Barcelona, reports emerged suggesting that the Premier League club have opted to try and sign Naby Keita from RB Leipzig this month.
The Reds agreed to sign the highly-rated Guinea midfielder for €75m last summer with the stipulation that he was to stay at Leipzig on loan for this season before arriving at Anfield.
However, with the significant injection of cash from the Coutinho transfer, several outlets are now reporting that the 22-year-old could be a Liverpool player as early as this week.
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It’s believed that Keita wants to leave Leipzig this month following the Bundesliga club’s elimination from the Champions League. Although he would be ineligible for Liverpool in that competition, having the second half of this season as a bedding-in period ahead of next season is a tantalising prospect for the club.
According to Sky Sports, the two clubs are negotiating but have not yet reached an agreement. Leipzig manager Ralph Hasenhuttl recently shut down rumours linking Keita with a move to Liverpool this month.
“The current situation is that nothing changed. We do not have a reason to sell Keita any time before the end of the season. That’s it. He will play at the weekend against Schalke 04 and hopefully he does well. That’s the only thing I really care about. I think that Naby wants to finish the season in a good way in Leipzig.”
However, the feeling among Liverpool fans is that Keita will sign for the club this month. It’s a story to keep an eye on in the next couple of days. Keita will play for Leipzig for Schalke on Saturday evening in what could be his last game for the club.
56.4% 👌
Naby #Keita's dribbling success rate makes him the 3rd best in the #Bundesliga with the ball at his feet this season ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/uYhICQcN8E
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) January 9, 2018
