Keita set for Liverpool move as Leipzig ‘change mind over deal’

Oli Fisher

The saga surrounding RB Leipzig star Naby Keita is set to continue as reports suggest the club have performed a dramatic U-turn on their stance.

Reports from German outlet Bild suggest that Leipzig may be set for a change of heart after rejecting bids of £57m and £66m.

Tensions inside the club are high as Keita landed himself in hot water after a “brutal” tackle on teammate Diego Demme in Austria, which caused the training session to be called off.

The report states that whilst he has apologised for the incident, his effort in training has shifted with his heart reportedly set on a move to Merseyside.

This comes after news on Tuesday that Liverpool would shelve their efforts to sign Naby Keita until next summer as they wait on RB Leipzig to respond to their third-and-final offer for the player.

Having seen bids of £58million and £66million rejected by the Bundesliga side, the Reds are reported to have contacted Leipzig once again with a take-it-or-leave-it offer of £74million.

Their third-and-final bid of £74million would not only smash Liverpool’s club record – currently the £36.9m paid for Mohamed Salah earlier this summer – but would also represent a Bundesliga record.

They continue to state that while sporting director Ralph Rangnick was previously adamant that the 22-year-old would not be sold, he is now believed to be searching for a successor.

Leipzig, who finished second in the Bundesliga and qualified for the Champions League, were hoping that the Guinean international would stay around, however interest from the Premier League appears to have turned his head.

Keita played 45 minutes for Leipzig in their 1-0 friendly win over Turkish outfit Konyaspor on Tuesday night and the club’s managing director Oliver Mintzlaff once again stated to the German press that he expected Keita to remain with the club this season.

He said: “RB Leipzig is looking forward to the next season together with Naby Keita.”

However, with Bild now claiming the club are ready to bow to Keita’s wishes, it seems Liverpool may finally be set to land their man.