Leipzig’s sporting director has ruled out the possibility of Naby Keita joining Liverpool in the January transfer window.
Liverpool agreed a deal for Keita back in August and the 22-year-old will officially become a Reds player on July 1 2018, but there has been speculation that Jurgen Klopp will attempt to bring the midfielder to Anfield earlier.
However, Leipzig director Ralf Rangnick has sent a stern message to the Merseyside giants, insisting that a move will not take place until the end of the 2017/18 campaign.
Rangnick told Leipziger Volkszeitung: ‘Even if we should not reach the knockout stages of Champions League, it would make no sense to allow Naby to join Liverpool earlier.
‘We want to qualify for Europe again, and we need Naby for that.’
Keita had a barnstorming campaign for Leipzig last term, scoring eight goals as the side finished second in the Bundesliga, behind Bayern Munich.
The Guinea international, though, has had a nightmare start to the 2017/18 season after being sent off three times in the space of 39 days.
Liverpool 2017/18 Fixtures
Brighton (H) - Sun May 13
Real Madrid (N) - Champions League -Sat May 26
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