BBC football pundit Ian Wright raves about forward-thinking Liverpool transfer moves

IAN WRIGHT has hailed Liverpool for their forward-thinking approach in the transfer market.

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Liverpool have wrapped up a club-record deal for RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita, who will join the club next summer.

The Reds failed with two bids for the Guinea midfielder, 21, who had a £48million release clause in his contract that became active next summer.

So desperate were Liverpool to get their man, they paid a premium to agree a sale with Leipzig now that will see the player move to Anfield in 2018.

Arsenal legend Wright told BBC 5 Live: "It's great recruitment. It's good business because they are thinking ahead.

"Arsenal are selling Shkodran Mustafi and getting rid of the Ox - are we talking about Arsenal again?

Naby KeitaGETTY

BBC football pundit Ian Wright has raved about the move to bring in Naby Keita

"At Liverpool, there's progress happenign all over the place. They are so exciting.

"Roberto Firmino in the nine-and-a-half position is fantastic, Daniel Sturridge looks like he's ready to go off the bench - there's positivity coming out of there and they look fantastic."

New York Times journalist Rory Smith was appearing with Wright on the show and he agreed it was good business.

He said: "It's a clever more, they tried with at least two bids towards £66m and possibly a third of around £74m.

Ian WrightGETTY

Ian Wright is a big fan of Liverpool's transfer dealings


"RB Leipzig said no and it was was one of those awkward transfer conversations where Liverpool didn't seem to realise that no meant no.

"They got that message eventually and now they have got the signing lined up for next summer by paying a bit extra beyond his release clause for next summer.

"I think it's very intelligent because other teams were sniffing around him - not least Bayern Munich.

"Another good season for Keita would trigger an auction that Liverpool wouldn't have one."

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