Naby Keita’s Bundesliga struggles could prove crucial to Liverpool’s transfer window

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Liverpool’s transfer business could be heavily influence by events in Germany over the final few weeks as reports indicate that the deal with RB Leipzig for Naby Keita could see the fee depend upon the German team’s league finish this season.

The Times say that a Champions League finish for Keita’s team will see the final fee cost Liverpool £59 million, whilst a Europa League place would see it lower to £52.75 million and seventh position or lower will see it fall as low as £48 million.

Leipzig’s woeful run of form has seen them lose two and draw one of their last three league games, being knocked out of the Europa League by Olympique Marseille in the process.

Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim have capitalised to climb above them, and now they may even struggle to make the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt hot on their heels only a point behind.

Liverpool have already paid part of the fee for the midfielder, but a saving of £11 million is not to be sniffed at and could give Jurgen Klopp more money to spend in the summer.

The German coach is not expected to spend big to spark substantial changes at Anfield, but improvements are needed in some areas of the squad, such as in goal and in midfield, and £11 million could go a long way to bringing one of those in.

Given that Andrew Robertson joined for a fee believed to be in the region of £8 million, Liverpool fans would love the chance of making another such signing purely with the money saved by RB Leipzig’s struggles.