Premier League: Liverpool to sign Naby Keita

Liverpool have secured the transfer of one of Europe's brightest talents: Naby Keita from RB Leipzig. However, the midfielder will only join the Reds on July 1st 2018 as he will continue to play for his current club until the end of the season. Liverpool have agreed to pay a release fee worth 48 million pounds for the 22-year-old midfielder. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has tried to bring Keita at Anfield Road this summer but Leipzig refused to sell the young midfielder. The signing of Keita breaks Liverpool's transfer record, which had been set in 2011 when they paid 35 million pounds to Newcastle for Andy Carroll. The Reds confirmed the deal on Tuesday and the revealed his thoughts: "I will become part of a project that excites me greatly. My commitment to RBL remains absolute for the remainder of my time at the club. Having my future resolved means I can now focus on helping RBL achieve great things this season. Until I join my new club, next summer, I will remain an interested supporter from a distance." RB Leipzig finished second behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga last season, which means they get to play in the Champions League this season. That is probably why they didn't want to sell Keita this summer, even though Liverpool had mad a previous offer believed to be around 70 million pounds. The Reds are also believed to prepare a big offer for AS Monaco midfielder Thomas Lemar before Thursday's transfer deadline, media reports claim they are ready to spend about 60 million pounds. Liverpool are 11/1 at Bet365 to win the Premier League title this season.