No third bid for Naby Keita as Liverpool focus recruitment elsewhere

Liverpool have not submitted a fresh approach for Naby Keita and do not intend to unless there is a major shift from RB Leipzig over the midfielder.

Suggestions of a new £74 million bid for the Guinea international are incorrect, with the Reds having not followed up their second offer, which was tabled and rejected last Monday.

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That £66m proposal was not the limit of the Merseysiders’ financial will to land the 22-year-old, but with the Bundesliga side again underscoring that no amount of money would force them to sell Keita, increasing the figure would prove unavailing.

Goal revealed a deal would be “practically impossible this summer" given Leipzig’s refusal to soften their stance, and while Jurgen Klopp has been patient in his pursuit of the dynamo, Liverpool’s own situation with Philippe Coutinho has put things in perspective.

The Reds rebuffed an opening £72m approach from Barcelona with the message that the Brazilian is not on the market at any price. They are not bluffing, and neither are Die Roten Bullen.

Keita, who injured team-mate Diego Demme’s knee in a reckless challenge during a heated training exchange on Monday, has wanted to line up under Klopp in the new season.

Liverpool hope his desire to move to Anfield remains intact next summer, when a £48m escape clause can be triggered to land the Guinean.

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The Reds boss has been reluctant to deviate from his first-choice options as he does not want to merely add to the squad, but genuinely elevate the quality in it.

“We are not afraid of big numbers at the club," Klopp explained to Goal.

“We are not afraid to spend, but we have to do the right things, look at the right players and negotiate with the right clubs.”