As per the Daily Mirror, Barcelona are interested in making a move on RB Leipzig midfielder and Liverpool’s Number 1 summer target Naby Keita.
The Reds were frustrated out of a move for the Guinean star this summer, and are believed to be nursing an ambition to return for his signature next summer when his £48million release clause can be activated.
Barcelona, though, could disrupt that plan as they see Keita as one of their options having seemingly admitted defeat in their move for Philippe Coutinho.
The Catalans were at Schalke’s 2-0 win over RB Leipzig on Saturday in the Bundesliga opener of the season, as technical director Roberto Fernandez and chief of scouting keenly watched Keita in action.
With or without Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp had plans to get the box-to-box midfielder this summer, and while the Brazilian’s purported stay is a much-welcome development, landing Keita remains top priority.
Should the desperate Barcelona in any way are able lure him to Camp Nou in the end, they would have successfully dealt a big blow on the Merseysiders’ plans for the coming summer.
Klopp has resolved to make do with the midfield options he has within his ranks presently, and if things don’t exactly go down as planned in the course of the campaigns, recruiting Keita will even become more important next summer.
Liverpool might have gained Coutinho after holding their ground during the transfer saga, but losing Keita to Barcelona could even prove to be equally as painful as losing the Brazilian.
