Liverpool legend Dietmar Hamann has urged Jurgen Klopp to pay whatever it takes to sign Guinea international and RB Leipzig midfielder, Naby Keita.
According to the former Germany International, Keita would be worth every penny of a £70 million transfer fee valuation if Liverpool decided to sign the RB Leipzig star, making him the club’s record signing.
“Would £70 million put me off buying Keita? No,” the German told the Liverpool Echo.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Just getting through the play-off round and into the group stage of the Champions League would pay off a big chunk of that fee. With Keita on board, Liverpool would have an even better chance of getting through.[/perfectpullquote]
“You can question the fees being mentioned for the likes of [Virgil] van Dijk and Keita, but if you want the top players you have to pay the going rate.
“It’s no good saying the market value is £30 million because you aren’t going to get someone like that for that fee.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”If Liverpool had to pay £60 million or £70 million to get Keita, it wouldn’t worry me. You are buying a top player for years to come,”[/perfectpullquote]
He added.
Keita has been strongly linked to the Merseyside but despite Klopp being a huge admirer of the 22-year-old, the £60 million to £70 million price tag valuation by RB Leipzig didn’t seem justifiable.
Nevertheless, a return to Champions League football will require Liverpool to field a squad with depth if they are to compete on all fronts.
Hamann, a former Leicester manager established himself as one of Liverpool’s most influential midfielders through his seven-year tenure at Anfield before moving to coaching in 2011.
His recommendation will surely carry weight but the main question still remains; can Liverpool afford a £60 million to £70 million gamble on a player that broke out just last season?
Liverpool has already signed Dominic Solanke from Chelsea and Mohammed Salah from AS Roma but still, have to get a left back and a defensive central midfielder to comfortably put up a title challenge.
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