What Jurgen Klopp and Daniel Sturridge said about Naby Keita offers Liverpool contract clue

Jurgen Klopp was asked about Naby Keita during his pre-Everton press conference on Friday morning. In his support for the Guinean midfielder, he labelled him as the best midfielder playing in his homeland when Liverpool signed him.

"Keita and Thiago Alcantara were the best midfielders in Bundesliga by far," Klopp said. "Keita we bought first, then Thiago. We have them both. That's cool."

It is not the first time the Reds boss has referred back to Keita's showings in Germany. He said virtually the same words after signing him some years ago, with Liverpool agreeing a deal for him one year in advance of his arrival on Merseyside.

It was the 2016/17 campaign which convinced the Anfield recruitment team of his level and potential ceiling. He was playing for RB Leipzig after they had achieved promotion to the German top-flight, and he helped guide them to a second-placed finish behind only Bayern Munich.

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