PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Naby Keita – Why he failed to join Liverpool in January

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Thursday Jan 18, 2018. 16:00

Media reports in Europe indicate that English Premier League side Liverpool failed to land RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita because they couldn't meet Leipzig’s demands.

Although the Reds have already signed the Guinea international, their agreement was to have the player in July 2018, but manager Jurgen Klopp wanted him in January.

However, the EPL side missed out on signing Keita earlier than planned because they wouldn’t meet Leipzig’s fee demands.

According to German newspaper Bild, the move collapsed when Leipzig demanded £17.8m (€20m) up front for the player.

“The transfer would only have been possible if we had reached an amicable solution in the sense of an exorbitant additional transfer payment," said Leipzig director of sport Ralf Rangnick.

Despite their failure to sign him now, Liverpool are expected to spend £48m on the Syli Nationale international in the summer after triggering his release clause at the start of the season.

It is reported that Keita has already registered his business, NK8 Limited, in the United Kingdom and Klopp has been linked with Thomas Lemar and Riyad Mahrez about coming to Merseyside this month.

However, the Reds are not willing to spend big money on new recruits, knowing that Keita is guaranteed to join them in the summer.