REDS’ £50M BID TO NAB NABY

LIVERPOOL are ready to smash the club’s transfer record to land No.1 target Naby Keita.

Leipzig have slapped a £50million price tag on their star midfielder but the Reds will not be put off by that valuation and are prepared to smash the record £38m fee they paid for Andy Carroll. Boss Jurgen Klopp believes 22-year-old Guinea international Keita is the best in his position in European football and is ready to meet his wage demands of £120,000 a week. And that could herald the largest summer spending spree in Anfield history, with Klopp determined to bring in more big names before the start of next season. Liverpool are also prepared to bid £50m for Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, with Klopp also monitoring strikers Alexander Lacazette, also in the £50m bracket, and Brazil star Luan (£25m). They also want a left-back and another attacking midfielder, with Fulham’s young defender Ryan Sessegnon and Schalke’s £25m-rated Leon Goretzka on Klopp’s radar. German international Goretzka offered Liverpool real hope in their pursuit yesterday when he distanced himself from a move to Bayern Munich.

SPECIAL K Klopp rates Keita as the best player in his position in Europe