Reds refuse to give up on midfield star
RB Leipzig have told Liverpool Naby Keita is not for sale - but Jurgen Klopp is still not ready to give up yet.
Leipzig have hardened their stance over the midfielder which is a major blow for the Reds, but they have not given up on landing him.
Liverpool made contact with Leipzig last week but were told yesterday that Keita will not be allowed leave.
It is understood that the German side are definitive on the matter, but Liverpool have yet to give up on acquiring boss Jurgen Klopp’s top midfield target.
Reports in Germany last month suggested that £70m would be enough for Leipzig to sell.
Keita, 22, is believed to be keen on a move to Anfield and even liked a picture on Instagram of him mocked up in a Liverpool shirt yesterday.
But now he faces a decision on what stance he will take with his own club and whether or not he will look to force a move out of Germany.
One option would be to hand in a transfer request but it is not known if he has – or will - go that far.
Meanwhile, Klopp insists he is not nervous about Liverpool’s lack of transfer activity.
The Reds have made just one major signing so far this summer with Mohamed Salah arriving in a £39m deal from Roma.
“We also bought players,” he said. “Yes and they (rivals) lost a lot of players. I heard Man United lost players, got new players. Don't know about Chelsea, I've not heard a lot.
“If any of our fans think about what the other teams are doing and why we aren't doing anything, I can't help, sorry. We cannot only buy players because other teams buy players.
“We do our business as good as we can do it and we are completely in it and we are convinced about the way that we are going so that's all.
“Nervous fans? Sorry I cannot help, i don't have to write a message for this.
“I'm not nervous - maybe that's the right message for this.”
Source: Daily Express
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