Former Liverpool favourite: £70m not too much for Keita

Liverpool would not be over-spending if they signed Naby Keita for £70million, according to Dietmar Hamann.

The Reds have courted RB Leipzig midfielder Keita throughout the summer, but the Bundesliga side have so far thwarted their approaches.

Manager Jurgen Klopp is gambling this summer, having not identified an alternative target to the 22-year-old.

Hamann, who spent seven years at Anfield, winning nine trophies, believes that “we’ve got to get away from people saying a player isn’t worth it”.

“Last season he scored goals and set goals up; but I think he’s best with a good midfielder next to him holding. He links midfield with attack superbly after coming from Salzburg at the start of last season,” he told Sky Sports.

“He worked well next to midfielder Diego Demme at Leipzig, he brought the best out of Keita, performing the holding role well and giving Keita the freedom and space to move forward.

“He’s a very capable player. Is £70m too much? If it’s market value, I think we’ve got to get away from people saying a player isn’t worth it, that’s what the prices are like now and that’s it.

“Have Liverpool got a holding midfield player to allow him that freedom? Jordan Henderson, Emre Can, I think they’re offence-minded players, and it will be interesting to see how Liverpool will shape up if he does come.

“Henderson is captain and you assume he has to play, but he may have to slightly adapt his game because at the moment he likes to get forward, and the most important thing about being a holding midfielder is discipline, regardless of what the score is. I think he’s got to prove he can do that.”