Liverpool have second bid of £66million turned down for Naby Keita as Jurgen Klopp faces losing battle

LIVERPOOL have failed with a second bid of £66million for Naby Keita.

Jurgen Klopp has lined up the central midfielder as his top transfer priority this summer but is facing a losing battle in his pursuit.

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Liverpool were hoping their new and improved offer would convince RB Leipzig to cash in after seeing a £57m bid rejected last week. 

The Bundesliga side are adamant that they won’t cash in on the 22-year-old despite paying just over £10m for him last summer.

Speaking to Sportbild, the club’s owner Dietrich Mateschitz said: “We don’t sell any of our players just to get money.

“Lately we got a €75m offer for Naby Keita. No way! He has a contract and he will accomplish it.

“To sell him would not only be a proof of distrust to our fans but also the wrong sign for our players like Timo Werner, who is in demand too.”

Keita has a long-term contract at the club which expires in the summer of 2020.

PA:Press Association

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And it could force Klopp to abandon his chase of the talented midfielder.

It has been a frustrating transfer window for Liverpool so far despite the arrivals of wingers Mohamed Salah and Dominic Solanke.

Klopp is desperate to land a midfield enforcer with Lucas Leiva the latest player to be shown the exit door at Anfield. 

The Brazilian has joined Lazio for just £5m ending his 10-year spell with the club.

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