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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp rules out January move for Naby Keita

Naby Keita of Leipzig passes the ball during the Bundesliga match against Sport-Club Freiburg on August 27, 2017
Image: Naby Keita will join Liverpool next summer after the Reds paid his £48m release clause

Jurgen Klopp says Naby Keita will not be moving to Liverpool during the January transfer window.

The Reds have agreed a club-record £48m deal to sign the RB Leipzig midfielder next summer that will allow Keita to join the club officially on July 1, 2018.

But Klopp has quashed talk that the Guinea international could move to Anfield sooner after Leipzig failed to qualify for the Champions League last 16.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 25:  Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool looks on prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield o
Image: Klopp has ruled out an earlier move for Keita

The German said: "There is an agreement with the club that he will come in June or July to Liverpool.

"There is nothing else to say about that. We really don't think about it because of all the things Leipzig have said.

"They said they do not have to sell any player. Why should they do something like that (letting him leave in January)? So no, we don't think about it."

When asked if he had kept in contact with the 22-year-old this season, Klopp said: "No. He is a player of Leipzig."

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Naby Keita received his third red card in seven games on Wednesday
Image: Keita received three red cards in a seven- game spell for club and country this season

Keita has made 19 appearances in all competitions for the German side this season, scoring five goals and receiving two red cards.

RB Leipzig are currently third in the Bundesliga but are out of the German Cup and are playing Napoli in the Europa League last 32.

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