Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that RB Leipzig do not qualify for Europe this season.
Ironically, the only reason that Keita will not be moving to Liverpool sooner could be the very reason why his price tag will significantly increase.
The Reds agreed to trigger Keita’s release clause of £48 million last summer but the Guinean midfielder was allowed to say with Leipzig for another season, with the German club hopeful that his presence would see them qualify for the Champions League again this term.
“Even if we should not reach the knockout stages of Champions League, it would make no sense to allow Naby to join Liverpool earlier,” Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick told Leipziger Volkszeitung in October.
“We want to qualify for Europe again and we need Naby for that.”
On Thursday, reports began circulating in Germany that Liverpool would have to part ways with an additional £18 million should Leipzig qualify for Champions League football.
SportBild report that the Merseyside outfit could have to fork out as much as £66 million for Keita’s services, depending on how they fare in the league.
The reported potential cost of the player for Liverpool breaks down as follows, via the Liverpool Echo… If Leipzig don’t finish in a European spot, Liverpool will pay £57 million. If they finish in a Europa League spot, Liverpool will have to pay £62 million. And if they make the Bundesliga top four, which would pave the way for another season of Champions League football, then Liverpool will have to shell out a whopping £66 million.
