Liverpool are preparing to table a record bid for RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita.
Keita remains a priority target for Jurgen Klopp after the Bundesliga newcomers ran Bayern Munich close to the title and reached the Champions League.
However, Leipzig are unwilling to allow their star players to leave as they prepare for a debut season in the group stages of Europe’s elite club competition.
Mintzlaff, RBL’s CEO has already warned clubs including the Reds that they have no desire to sell any of their players this summer.
But Liverpool are ready to put Mintzlaff’s warning to the test as they prepare to table a bid worth £70 million for the highly-rated midfielder.
Klopp is prepared to smash the club’s current £36.9m record transfer fee as a signal of intent in his attempts to bring Keita to Anfield.
The Guinea international scoring eight goals and creating seven assists in a debut season in Germany, helping Leipzig challenge Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga.