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talkSPORT reports that Naby Keita, who is set to join Liverpool on 1st July from German club RB Leipzig, may end up costing the Anfield club less money than was originally envisaged.
Leipzig refused to sell Keita to Liverpool last year but, instead, agreed a fee for the midfielder to switch to the Premier League club this summer. Liverpool agreed to pay Keita’s release clause of £48 million but, under the terms of the agreement, were also due to hand over more money to Leipzig if they finished in the Europa League places in the Bundesliga, and, even more, if they repeated this season’s feat and qualified for the Champions League.
However, their form has tailed off in recent weeks, and they are no longer guaranteed of a top six finish and European football for next season. They are currently sixth, just one point ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt, with three matches left to play. If they maintain their current position, then Liverpool will have to pay £52.7 million for Keita, but, were Frankfurt to overhaul them, then the fee for the player would revert to the £48 million.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.