Liverpool could still welcome Naby Keita next month with sources in Germany sure that the player is fed up at current club RB Leipzig. Keita, 22, agreed on a move to Liverpool over the summer but has to wait until July 2018 to officially complete the switch.
However, according to the Daily Express, the player is unhappy in Germany and could join the Anfield club before his July 2018 arrival date.
With Leipzig out of the Champions League, Bundesliga expert Lee Price claims Keita is desperate to change the terms of the deal.
“The Naby Keita transfer saga had appeared to resolve itself – the midfielder was due to move to Liverpool in the summer, and that’s that,” Price told Daily Express.
“But the Guinean himself might have a say in the matter. Leipzig’s novelty is wearing off – they’re fifth in the Bundesliga this season, and have been demoted to the Europa League, where they face a tough tie against Napoli.
“For Keita, the challenge has almost gone, and he ideally wants to move to Liverpool now.
“The player doesn’t intend to rock the boat hugely in Leipzig, and is relishing the winter break in Germany, but his camp is expected to push for a move upon his return to training in January,” Price, who has written two books on the Bundesliga, further added.
The club record signing would make the Reds engine room even more dynamic with his high-pressing and swift movement. The Guinean is tailor-made for Jurgen Klopp’s pressing and high-octane style of play.
Keita is a box-to-box midfielder, not a holding player, and while there are similarities between him and Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante in terms of running output, Keita is much better when to comes to contributing to the attack and dictating the tempo of the game.
The midfielder boasts of a never-ending engine, is capable of making crisp passes and runs with the ball. Keita can also play an advanced role but is more suited to playing in a double-pivot.
With Emre Can out of contract in the summer and reluctant to extend his stay at Anfield, Keita could be the German’s perfect replacement at Liverpool. Anyone who has watched Keita over the last 12 months would struggle to do anything but praise for him.
