Jurgen Klopp told Liverpool FC signing better than Sadio Mane
RB Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick talks up Naby Keita, who will move to Liverpool FC next summer
RB Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick has named incoming Liverpool signing Naby Keita as the best player he has worked with in his 20-year spell in the Bundesliga.
Liverpool made a number of attempts to sign the versatile midfielder in the 2017 summer transfer window but the Reds were unable to get a deal over the line for the Guinea international.
In the end, the Reds agreed a £48m deal with RB Leipzig to sign the midfielder at the end of the 2017-18 season when the African star’s contract release clause kicks in.
Keita scored eight goals and made nine assists in his first season in the Bundesliga after RB Leipzig signed the 23-year-old in a £48m deal from Red Bull Salzburg in 2016.
The RB Leipzig star has scored one goal and has made one assist in seven appearances in the Bundesliga to make a decent start to the season.
Rangnick worked with current Liverpool winger Sadio Mane and the Reds’ Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino.
However, the RB Leipzig sporting director named Keita as the most-talented player that he has worked with.
“He’s one of the best I’ve worked with in 20 years of professional football,” Rangnick told Kicker.
“I’d also prefer, 10 times, that we’d kept him for another five years – but we are just not able to pay salaries in excess of €10m.”
Liverpool finished in fourth place in the Premier League last season to secure a return to the Champions League.
