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Liverpool are ready to smash the club's transfer record to land their number one summer target Naby Keita .

The midfielder's club Leipzig have slapped a £50m price tag on their biggest star in the hope it will discourage bids.

But the Reds will NOT be put off by such a massive price tag, and they are prepared to smash the record £38m fee they paid for Andy Carroll.

And that could herald the largest summer spending spree in Anfield history, with boss Jurgen Klopp determined to bring in some big stars - and his main targets - before the start of next season's Champions' League campaign.

(Image: Bongarts)

Klopp believes Guinea international Keita is the best in his position currently operating in European football, and he has told his board the price tag should be no barrier to signing such an elite central midfielder.

He won't stop there - and that could see Liverpool beat their previous summer spending figures, with the Reds looking to splash upwards of £150m, with a figure of £200m to match City and United not out of the question.

Talks have already progressed with Keita's advisors, and the Reds would also meet his wage demands in excess of £120,000 a week.

(Image: Getty Images AsiaPac)

And they have a good relationship with the player's agent, who also represents Sadio Mane, Klopp's big signing of last summer.

Leipzig have said they don't want to sell any first team players, but the £50m figure could change their mind.

And Liverpool would love to match that fee in their race to land Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, who remains another at the very top of Klopp's wish list.

The defender would cost around £50m, which would push the Reds' spending to beyond £100m...and again the club would not flinch at such a fee, even though they face stiff competition from Chelsea.

(Image: Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

The spending would not stop there even if they get both. Klopp wants a striker and he has targeted one of Alexander Lacazette and Brazil star Luan, with the latter priced at around £25m, and French international Lacazette twice that.

He also wants a left back and another attacking midfielder, with Fulham's defender Ryan Sessegnon very highly regarded at a fee of between £15-20m, and Klopp also admires Schalke's Leon Goretzka.

(Image: Rex Features)

The German international offered Liverpool real hope in their pursuit yesterday, when he shot down the strong feeling he was heading to Bayern Munich.

The supremely talented midfielder has a year left on his contract, but if he leaves Germany in the summer would still cost in the region of £25m, which would take the Reds' spending plans towards the £200m mark.