‘Klopp ready to return to Bundesliga…’ One Kopite by the bar fell off his stall at this point, before reading on to reveal that headline ends ‘for take-on king star to bolster Liverpool midfield’, at which point he dusted himself down and asked “who?”
Well, the name in question, via Goal, is RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita, who has been earning rave reviews for his performances in his first season in German football.
The 22-year-old Guinea international has been a key component in the Red Bull-backed team’s impressive start to life in the BuLi after their promotion last term, demonstrating the sort of explosiveness and tactical awareness that Jurgen Klopp demands of his central midfield players.
Indeed, Keita has made more take-ons than any other midfielder in the division this term (53 with a 70% success rate), which really is an impressive return.
The starlet also has 10 goals to his name despite often playing in a relatively withdrawn central midfield position, while his progression through the ranks at Red Bull Salzburg before his move to Leipzig bears similarities to Sadio Mane’s career, with the current Anfield hero having spent time with the Austrian club.
However, Goal suggest that the Bundesliga side will be difficult to negotiate with given their financial muscle and the prospect of Champions League football next season at the Red Bull Arena Leipzig may be enough to keep Keita there for at least another campaign.
