RB Leipzig look to ward off Liverpool interest in Naby Keita as head coach insists midfielder 'feels great' at club

Liverpool are reported to have made a £60m offer for Keita but have so far failed in their attempts to land the youngster

Naby Keita in action for RB Leipzig last season (Getty)

RB Leipzig have once again sought to ward off Liverpool’s interest in Naby Keita, insisting that the youngster ‘feels great’ at the club and is “looking forward to the new season” in Germany.

After adding Mohamed Salah and Dominic Solanke to their ranks, Liverpool turned their attention to Keita but have so far been left frustrated in their pursuit of the highly-rated 22-year-old.

RB Leipzig continue to dig their heels in and have already made it clear to the Reds they have no desire to sell the midfielder.

And speaking in a recent interview with German magazine kicker, RB Leipzig head coach Ralph Hasnhuttl insisted that Keita and Emil Forsberg, another player to have been linked with a move away from the Red Bull Arena, “feel great” at the club despite continued speculation over their futures.

"You can see that they feel great here and are looking forward to the new season," Hasenhuttl said. "They know very well what they have here.

"It's a huge compliment for us that we awoke such desires, but it's not the general idea of our path to allow players a transfer following the first available offer.

“Our goal is to become a big and established club, and what we did this summer is a substantial step towards it."

Keita has risen to prominence with Red Bull Salzburg and then RB Leipzig, who he signed for last summer for just over £10m.

While Liverpool are ready to offer £60m for his signature, much more than the £48m release clause that is understood to be in his contract for 12 months from now, there is a hope that a huge new contract in the autumn could convince Keita to stay.

Those close to the player suggest there is little chance of him renewing his deal but that is of little consequence this summer. What his strongest suitors are hoping for is that he now formally tells the club that he wants to leave, likely forcing him to forfeit a number of loyalty bonuses and payments in his existing deal.