By Rory O’Callaghan
Last Updated: 26/05/17 7:36am
Liverpool face a battle to sign highly-rated midfielder Naby Keita from RB Leipzig as the German club fight to hold on to their most prized assets this summer.
The Reds have been linked with a move for the 22-year-old, who scored eight goals in 29 appearances in his debut season in the Bundesliga after joining Leipzig from sister-club Red Bull Salzburg.
Keita played an integral role in Leipzig’s surprise challenge for the German title and Jurgen Klopp is rumoured to be a huge admirer of the Guinea international.
However, Leipzig insist they have no reason to sell their best players as they look to build a squad capable of competing in the Champions League next season.
“We have decided that we will not sell any player from our starting line-up,” chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff told The Times.
“Ralf Rangnick [Leipzig’s sporting director] told this to our team at the end of the season. We will keep our team together and keep on developing.”
Leipzig are expected to only consider offers over the £50m mark for Keita, while another of Liverpool’s summer transfer targets – Virgil van Dijk – is likely to cost the same.
Chelsea and Manchester United have also been linked with the Southampton defender, who only recently signed a new six-year contract with the Saints.
