Liverpool to make club-record bid for No.1 midfield target

Liverpool are ready to test RB Leipzig’s resolve with a stunning club-record bid for first choice midfield target Naby Keita, reports The Daily Mirror.

The Bundesliga outfit have slapped a £70m price tag on Keita’s head in a bid to ward off potential suitors as they look to keep their star players ahead of next season.

Leipzig have previously claimed it would be ‘irresponsible’ to sell Keita or Emil Forsberg this summer when they are preparing for the Champions League next season, but Liverpool are keen to discover whether there is any chance to strike a deal for the former.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have already broken their club-transfer record with the £36m arrival of Mohamed Salah this summer and now Liverpool are prepared to shatter it again to hand their manager exactly what the needs to mould a title-winning side.

Keita enjoyed a stunning campaign in his first ever season in the Bundesliga last term and was arguably one of the best players in the division. The 22-year-old box-to-box midfielder scored eight goals and registered seven assists in 31 league appearances last season.

Not only that, but Keita won possession in the midfield third more times than any other Bundesliga player last season (180).

For more stats on Naby Keita, click here to visit his WhoScored player page