Liverpool are said to be preparing a third and final offer worth £75 million for RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita, with £40 million paid up front.
The Reds have seen their previous bids of £57 million and £66 million rejected by the Bundesliga side, who are adamant their No. 8 won’t leave this summer.
But this has not deterred the Anfield hierarchy, who are eager to satisfy Jurgen Klopp‘s demands ahead of a crucial 2017/18 campaign.
According to the Independent, Liverpool are set to make their final approach to Leipzig, increasing their offer to £75 million, with a substantial payment up front.
All big-money transfers are paid in instalments, but this would see Leipzig receive £40 million this summer, which could be “extremely persuasive.”
Whether this convinces the Red Bull-backed club to part ways with their most valuable asset remains to be seen, but this will be a take-it-or-leave-it offer from the Reds.
This could test Leipzig’s resolve, with Keita able to leave for £48 million next summer due to a release clause in his current contract.
If that fails, Liverpool are likely to move on to alternative targets, with Arsenal‘s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Schalke’s Leon Goretzka and Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic all linked.
Elsewhere, Klopp’s side were given a major boost in their hopes of signing Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk on Friday.
Saints manager Mauricio Pellegrino confirmed the Netherlands international had told the club of his desire to leave, with Van Dijk now training separate from his team-mates.
Liverpool were forced to issue a public apology to Southampton in June after it transpired that Klopp had met with the player, but their interest in Van Dijk has not waned.
Van Dijk is valued at over £60 million, but Fenway Sports Group are clearly willing to back their manager this summer.
Fan Comments