RB Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick has dismissed the idea the club will allow Naby Keita to join Liverpool in January if they fail to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Liverpool agreed a £55m deal with Leipzig over the summer for Keita to move to Anfield at the end of the current campaign but there have been suggestions Jurgen Klopp’s side will look to accelerate the deal in the New Year.
The Bundesliga outfit are currently third in their Champions League group and two points behind second-placed Porto with games remaining away to Monaco and at home to group leaders Besiktas.
However, Rangnick insists Keita will not leave in January even if Leipzig drop out of the Champions League as they need the 22-year-old to help them qualify for Europe next season.
“Even if we should not reach the knockout stages of the Champions League, it would make no sense to allow Naby to join Liverpool earlier,” he told Leipziger Volkszeitung, via The Daily Mirror. “We want to qualify for Europe again, and we need Naby for that.”
Keita is yet to hit the stunning heights of last season and needs to start keeping his temper in check after being sent off twice in the space of six appearances for Leipzig.
Since the start of last season, the Leipzig No.8 has completed the most dribbles in the Bundesliga (109).
