Naby Keita’s form is a cause for concern ahead of summer transfer to Liverpool

Liverpool had enquired about bringing the midfielder to the club early in January

Naby Keita will join up with Jurgen Klopp's squad next summer (Getty)

Naby Keita’s form this season for RB Leipzig has become a cause for concern ahead of his move to Liverpool this summer, with his head coach admitting there has been a drop off in both consistency and quality compared to last season.

It was last season’s form for the Bundesliga runners-up which persuaded Liverpool to embark on a summer-long chase of the midfielder before agreeing to a then club-record £48m move to bring him to Anfield at the end of the current campaign.

However, Leipzig manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has become critical of Keita, who remains a key player for the club, and noticed a drop-off in the levels of his performances.

“Naby is not as consistent this year as last year,” Hasenhuttl told Bild. “It's important that he brings his expectations back to normal levels.

“I'm not one who wants to motivate with fear. I don't immediately get the whip out in the classic sense and I don't kick the players non-stop.”

There were suggestions that following Philippe Coutinho’s £142m move to Barcelona, the Reds would move to bring Keita in early in January, although Leipzig rebuffed the idea.