Liverpool target Naby Keita’s entourage slammed by RB Leipzig chief Ralf Rangnick for turning his head towards transfer
Fuming sporting director said player at centre of £74million bid is being influenced by outside agencies
RB LEIPZIG chief Ralf Rangnick has slammed Liverpool target Naby Keita's entourage and said his head has been turned towards a transfer by "a whole village in Guinea".
Liverpool have reportedly made a third £74.2million bid for the Guinea international, who is Jurgen Klopp's top summer target.
The Kop side have already had offers of £57m and £66m turned down by the Bundesliga side.
The 22-year-old midfielder has told Leipzig bosses he wants to move to England but they remain firm.
But sporting director Rangnick is adamant he and Emil Forsberg will go nowhere - and criticised Keita's friends for encouraging him to leave the club.
Rangnick said: "There should be someone who points them into the right direction.
"The boys themselves are not the problem here. It is their surroundings.
"A whole village in Guinea or somebody from their entourage tells the players why they must do something right away. I can't blame the players.
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"I expect them to play for us next season. Both are extraordinary players who make the difference for our team."
Keita recently let his frustration boil over in training when he lunged in on Diego Demma.
The tackle was so bad it forced boss Ralph Hasenhuttl to cancel the session.
Keita’s brutal challenge left Demma reeling on the pitch in agony towards the end of practise at the club’s training camp in Seefeld.
The 25-year-old was then bandaged up over his right knee and carried off by others.
