Conte gets unwelcome answer from Liverpool star as Tottenham target turns nose up at move and opts to rejoin former club

Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita

Tottenham’s reported interest in a wantaway Liverpool star has seemingly come crashing to an abrupt halt amid claims the player is looking to re-sign for one of his former clubs this summer.

The Reds are looking to rebuild their side this summer after a difficult campaign. They currently sit down in 10th place with just eight wins from their 20 matches played to date. And they face a huge battle to reclaim a place in the Champions League next season before the current campaign is out.

With that in mind, the club are likely to embark on a pretty hefty team reconstruction programme this summer. And a report on Tuesday has indicated that as many as 10 players could be forced to leave by Jurgen Klopp.

Three of those likely to leave are all coming towards the end of their contracts at Anfield. And possibly the most costly of the lot also falls into that category, in Naby Keita.

The Guinean signed for Liverpool in summer 2018 for a fee that reached £52.75m. To this day, that makes Keita the fourth most-costly signing in the Merseysiders’ history.

But despite arriving with plenty of promise and in taking the coveted No 8 shirt at Anfield, Keita has been a major disappointment.

Nonetheless, seeing the African leave on the cheap will certainly leave a bitter taste. Liverpool have previously tried to pin him down to a contract extension, though their best efforts have quickly been waved away.

And with his deal nearing an end, it has quickly become apparent that Keita intends to walk away as a free agent.

As such, the midfielder is unlikely to be short of admirers. Indeed, the likes of Roma, Milan, Inter, Lyon and Monaco are among his suitors.

Naby Keita picks preferred next club as Liverpool exit takes shape

However, reports on Tuesday suggested Antonio Conte was plotting a move to lure Keita to Tottenham.

The report suggested that the Italian saw the player as a tempting proposition on a free transfer. And the chance to help him return to his best form in a new environment was one that Conte was seemingly up for.

However, speculation linking Keita to Tottenham appears to have been nipped in the bud almost as quickly as it started.

That’s after a report in 90min claimed Keita was close to deciding where he wants to play his football next season.

And they suggest that the 27-year-old is setting his sights on a return to the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig. The Guinean starred for Die Roten Bullen for two years prior to his move to Anfield. Scoring 17 times and creating 15 more in 71 appearances, he made himself one of the Bundesliga’s best midfielders in that time.

As such, he believes a return to his former club could help him rediscover the form that made him such a leading star.

Thankfully for Keita, a perfect opportunity to return to his former club appears to have opened up. And with former Liverpool target Konrad Laimer likely to leave for Bayern Munich, they are targeting a move for Keita to fill the void.

As such, the move appears to be gathering pace with all parties seemingly open to the move. As such, it would come as no surprise to anyone at Liverpool if that is where Keita ended up.

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