Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp jokes about £268m bid for Naby Keita

JURGEN KLOPP has joked Liverpool will have to make a stunning £268million bid for Naby Keita to convince RB Leipzig to sell.

Gabriele Marcotti: Liverpool could sacrifice Coutinho for Keita

Liverpool have been left frustrated in their pursuit of Keita after RB Leipzig rejected two club record bids for the Guinea international.

The Reds have now ended their interest in Keita and instead plan on signing him next summer when his £48m release clause comes into effect.

With two weeks until the Premier League season begins, Liverpool are now forced to search for other targets to bolster their squad.

But when asked by Sky Deutschland about another possible Liverpool bid for Naby Keita, Klopp was in a jokey mood.

Then we’ll make a €300m [£268m] offer for Keita

Jurgen Klopp

He is quoted as saying: “Then we’ll make a €300m [£268m] offer for Keita!”

On Saturday, Leipzig boss Ralph Hasenhuttl reiterated their stance on Keita and said there was no chance the midfielder would leave this summer.

He said: "The chance [of him leaving] is null.

"It is 100 per cent clear that Naby will play this year with Leipzig and at the beginning of the transfer window we said we would start with the same team with all the main players we had last year and that no one will go and that will be our answer now also.

Jurgen Klopp EPA

Jurgen Klopp has wanted to sign Naby Keita all summer

"Everyone can see how important Naby Keita is with our game. Him and [Emil] Forsberg also.

"These are our two most important players on our team so it’s sure he will be with our team next year."

And when told that Liverpool plan on signing Keita in 2018, Hasenhuttl added: "Tell them they will not be the only ones, I think.

"Until next summer we keep it [the door] closed. Then we will have a look."

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