Liverpool are working on the £50 million transfer signing of highly rated Guinea international and RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita. The Reds are looking to strengthen their midfield ahead of preseason tour, and Jurgen Klopp has identified the holding midfielder as his No. 1 transfer target this summer.
Only 22-years old, Keita would be an upgrade in the centre of the park for the ageing Lucas Leiva, who could be on his way out of Anfield, and Emre Can. If Liverpool do sign Keita, it would break their previous transfer record. That record was set last summer when the club signed Sadio Mane from Southampton for £35.5m. That move worked out well for the Reds, and the addition of Keita has the potential to do the same.
Leipzig surprised the football world and finished second in the German Bundesliga this past season. It was the club’s first ever season in the German top-flight. With Champions League football on the docket in 2017-18, the club have announced Keita nor any of their other top stars will be sold. The German team are set to sign midfielder Laimer, however, from sister-club RB Salzburg. Naby Keita spent two seasons with the Austrian team before moving to Leipzig last summer. If Laimer does sign, which it seems more than likely at this point, Keita could be free to move to Liverpool.
Naby Keita Key Stats 2016-17:
- 8 goals and 7 assists from 30 matches played
- 2.6 tackles per match
- 2.6 interceptions per match
- 1.3 key passes per match
- 1.6 times dispossessed per match
- 8 yellow cards all season
Other English Premier League Transfer news
Manchester City have already sealed a deal with Monaco to sign attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese playmaker moves to the Etihad for £43m, the seventh most expensive transfer in Premier League history. The 22-year-old scored eight goals and assisted nine as Monaco stormed their way to the French Ligue 1 title.
Former Manchester City full-back Pablo Zabaleta has signed with West Ham. Meanwhile, Chelsea could lose Diego Costa, but not to a Chinese Super League team as previously reported. The Spaniard has indicated he wants to return to Atletico Madrid. Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Jerome Boateng of Bayern Munich.