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Timo Werner likens Liverpool-bound Naby Keita to Andres Iniesta

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By Rohan Sengupta

Liverpool-bound Naby Keita has been compared to Barcelona midfield maestro, Andres Iniesta by RB Leipzig teammate Timo Werner.

The Guinean midfielder has a deal in place which will bring him to Liverpool when the summer transfer window opens.

Werner and Keita have been central to RB Leipzig’s rise in the last couple of seasons. Werner, who has 19 goals and 7 assists in all competitions this season, is expected to lead Germany’s attack in the forthcoming World Cup in Russia.

The German has reserved special praise for Keita, citing that Premier League heavyweights Liverpool have made a brilliant investment.

“Naby will be a world-class player because he has everything,” he told FourFourTwo (h/t Bundesliga.com).

“I think he’s a bit like Andres Iniesta, the same type of player, because he can dribble, shoot and score. He has a lot of qualities that the young Iniesta had.”

The midfielder has endured an inconsistent campaign, although Werner believes that the Guinean will be a success wherever he plays, with plenty of potential still to be unbolted.

“I don’t think Naby will get worse. He’ll only get better,” concluded Werner.

Werner has played with Keita for close to two years and his recent comments will undoubtedly excite the Liverpool fans.

Keita has been a key figure in the midfield for Leipzig in the last couple of seasons. Ralph Hassenheutl’s side were a surprise package last season in the Bundesliga as they finished runners-up to Bayern Munich.

In Hassenheutl’s free-flowing and high-octane style of play, Keita’s role in central midfield is to spread the play. His ability to intercept the ball is also pretty good.

The arrival of Keita next season would give the Reds more dynamism and thrust in the midfield, which will allow the attackers to express themselves more.