Liverpool will have to break the bank in order to sign Red Bull Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita.
The Guinean international’s impressive performances in the middle of the park have attracted admirers from around Europe, with Liverpool thought to be extremely interested.
Keita enjoyed a stunning debut campaign with Leipzig, scoring eight goals in 29 appearances since his move from Red Bull Salzburg last summer.
He was an integral part of Leipzig’s surprise challenge for the Bundesliga title, which eventually saw them finish in second place behind Bayern Munich, and three points ahead of Borussia Dortmund in third.
Either despite Liverpool’s interest in signing the 22-year-old, they could have to smash their transfer record, as Leipzig would demand in excess of £50 million.
Leipzig chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff recently said that the club were not in the business of selling their best players:
We have decided not to sell any player from our starting lineup.
Ralph Rangnick [Sporting Director] told this to our team at the end of the season.
We will keep our team together and keep on developing.
The current Liverpool transfer record was set when Kenny Dalglish splashed out £35 million on Andy Carroll from Newcastle back in 2012.
They are also interested in signing Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk