Naby Keita: Liverpool could end up spending £70m on the trickiest box-to-box midfielder in Europe right now

Posted Wednesday, June 28, 2017 by squawka.com

Liverpool may have to pay £70 million to sign midfielder Naby Keita from RB Leipzig this summer.

The Guinea international has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield but, while Liverpool are currently preparing an offer of £50 million for Keita, they may have to pay significantly more if they are to seal a deal for one of their key targets given RB Leipzig's demands, as reported by the Guardian.

Naby Keita attempted 1,411 passes in the Bundesliga last season.

Keita's current deal at RB Leipzig runs until the summer of 2020 but the 22-year-old has refused to commit to a new contract, offering Liverpool encouragement that they could sign him.

An extremely talented player, Keita played a prominent part as RB Leipzig, to the surprise of many, managed to finish in second place in the Bundesliga last season.

Keita is superb at bursting past opponents, as evidenced by the fact that he completed more take-ons – 83 – than any other midfielder in Europe's top five leagues last campaign. He is also capable of retaining possession effectively and was successful with 81% of the passes that he attempted in the Bundesliga last season.

Liverpool's most expensive signings

5) Roberto Firmino – Hoffenheim – £29 million – 2014

4) Christian Benteke – Aston Villa – £32.5 million – 2015

3) Sadio Mane – Southampton – £34.5 million – 2016

2) Andy Carroll – Newcastle United – £35 million – 2011

1) Mohamed Salah – Roma – £36.9 million – 2017