Barcelona transfer news: RB Leipzig star Naby Keita is a target for Barcelona
Keita has been Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp's No 1 target this summer but RB Leipzig have refused to sell.
Klopp has seen two bids of £57million and £65m rejected for the 22-year-old midfielder.
While Leipzig have blocked Liverpool's move for Keita, the Reds have done exactly the same with Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho.
Liverpool rejected a third offer worth around £118m for Coutinho at the weekend with the Spanish giants desperate to replace Neymar following his £200m move to Paris Saint-Germain.
And according to The Mirror, Barca have now turned their attention away from Coutinho to Keita.
It is said Barca chiefs were in attendance at Schalke's 2-0 Bundesliga win over Leipzig on Saturday.
The Mirror say Barca sent technical director Roberto Fernandez and the club's chief of scouting to Germany to see Keita play 90 minutes on the losing side and also to run the rule over Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka.
The La Liga giants are desperate to sign a Neymar replacement but also have two huge headaches over Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, who have both yet to sign new deals.
Messi, 30, agreed a new contract earlier in the summer but it has been revealed he is yet to actually put pen to paper.
While 33-year-old Iniesta spoke out admitting he was considering his future with just one year to run on his deal.
Barca may find their plan to hijack Liverpool for Keita a tough task, with Leipzig insistent their star man will be staying put for their Champions League season.
Goretzka, also 22, has a similarly uncertain future at Schalke with just a year to run on his contract with his boyhood club.
Schalke want him to sign a new deal but he has been linked with a free transfer move to rivals Bayern Munich next summer.
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Barcelona transfer news: Naby Keita is also wanted by Liverpool
Barcelona could swoop in and land him on a cut-price fee this summer or try and sign convince Leipzig to do what Liverpool couldn't and sell Keita.
While Neymar's void still looms large over the Nou Camp they are now also facing the prospect of losing Iniesta with Juventus tracking him.
"I've experienced a lot of sensations I've not known before, but I think they're normal. It's a scenario which three years ago I could never have imagined,” he told Spanish newspaper El Pais.
"Let's say I'm thinking about my future when before I wasn't."We all like to be appreciated, valued and respected.
"I have always felt affection and respect from everyone here, but it's also clear that at this club you can never lose respect toward people that have given their lives for these colours.
"That should never be lost, and sometimes you get the sensation that it is.”
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