Liverpool have seen a £66 million bid for Naby Keita rejected by RB Leipzig.
Last season’s Bundesliga runners-up continue to stand firm that the highly-rated midfielder is not for sale at any price despite numerous offers by the Reds.
The latest attempt from Anfield to prise Keita away from Leipzig has been met with a similar level of dismissal – even at a club-record fee for the player.
Red Bull magnate and Lepzig owner Dietrich Mateschitz confirmed that Liverpool’s follow-up bid on the Guinea international was a futile attempt.
“We don’t sell any of our players just to get money,” he told Bild.
“Lately we got a €75m offer for Naby Keita. No way! He has a contract and he will complete it.
“To sell him would not only be a proof of distrust to our fans but also the wrong sign for our players like Timo Werner, who is in demand too.”
Jurgen Klopp’s failure to wear down the east German side has left Liverpool facing the prospect of missing out on one of thier preferred summer targets.
To date, only Mohamed Salah and Dominic Solanke have moved to Merseyside while Andrew Robertson is set to become a third signing this week.
However the stalemate on Keita and a failed pursuit of Virgil van Dijk, which ended with a public apology to Southampton, has hampered Liverpool’s plans.
Meanwhile Kevin Stewart is expected to complete an £8m move to Hull City.
The midfielder has left Liverpool’s pre-season tour of Hong Kong to conclude the deal, which is separate from Tigers defender Robertson’s switch to Anfield.