Report: Liverpool willing to pay more for early Keita arrival

Liverpool is prepared to offer more cash to RB Leipzig in an attempt to bring in midfielder Naby Keita during the January transfer window, according to The Telegraph's Chris Bascombe.

The two sides agreed to a transfer last summer with the understanding that Keita would join the Reds in June 2018. However, Philippe Coutinho's departure has forced Liverpool to consider expediting the player's date of arrival.

Although it's unlikely Jurgen Klopp will get to field Keita months ahead of schedule, Liverpool now has the cash to test Leipzig's stance. Securing Keita's early passage to Merseyside would require a fee on top of the reported £55 million that Liverpool paid for the 22-year-old.

But it doesn't appear Leipzig is in any mood to make concessions. Club CEO Oliver Mintzlaff confirmed last week that neither Keita nor his agent made a request to leave in the winter.

The Bundesliga outfit, which is currently in fifth place in the German top flight, views Keita as a massive part of its push for Champions League qualification.