Liverpool, having secured a ‘top four’ Premier League finish for the first time since their remarkable 2013-14 season, are pursuing ‘quality’ signings over ‘quantity’ under Jurgen Klopp and already brought in young striker Dominic Solanke from reigning champions Chelsea, highly rated left-back Andrew Robertson from relegated Hull City and former AS Roma winger Mohamed Salah after prolonged discussions.
The Reds, however, have struggled to land both Naby Keita and Virgil Van Dijk – two of their prime transfer targets so far despite rigorous negotiations over past couple of months.
Van Dijk has asked to let him leave and is training on his own. A deal, thus, is still on for the 26-year old Dutch centre back, but the situation regarding Keita is far more complicated due to the rigidity of his current employers RB Leipzig who are proving to be notorious negotiators and have reportedly rejected two subsequent hefty bids of £57 mil and £66 mil.
Although the Reds are plotting another improved bid of £70 mil in coming days, their desperateness of acquiring Keita in spite of having Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Georginio Wijnaldum, Emre Can, Marko Grujic and skipper Jordan Henderson is a subject that needs to be analysed.
The Reds, no doubt need Van Dijk over Naby Keita at this point of time due to their defensive vulnerability, the Guinean, too, is a necessity for a number of undeniable grounds.
Liverpool must not replicate a similar mistake of waiting for the new midfield sensation like they did for Borussia Monchengladbach playmaker Mohamed Dahoud last year who has joined Bundesliga heavyweights Borussia Dortmund this season for a €12 mil transfer fee.
Ralf Rangnick, Leipzig sporting director, has taken a strong stance of blocking high-profile exits and also refrained Emil Forsberg from joining Serie A giants, AC Milan.
Keita, 22, is dynamic, box-to-box and hailed for his vision, strong passing and finishing traits. He had a majestic campaign for the newly promoted Bundesliga outfit and helped them finish second behind European giants Bayern Munich. Coutinho will be explored centrally alongside Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson.
But the recent injury records of this midfield trio will leave Klopp with Gini Wijnaldum, Emre Can and youngster Marko Grujic only – who, although defensively sound, lacks attacking exposure.
A return in prestigious Champions League event will demand a quality inclusion in the middle of the park who can drive the game banking on his tireless runs in midfield with admirable dribbling, holding, snatching as well as distributing attributes and Keita holds everything that one requires to become a world class midfielder in near future.
Liverpool, understandably, have not lined up any alternative of Naby Keita yet and are still hopeful of concluding a deal by offering a hefty fee that Leipzig will find hard to ignore. But the move will be jeopardised if their third bid also gets rejected and the Reds will have to plan accordingly accepting an unforeseen defeat in pursuit of their preferred option.
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