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He's the brand new £50million signing who is set to take over Steven Gerrard's iconic No.8 shirt - but just what type of player are Liverpool getting in Naby Keita?

The gifted Guinean midfielder will officially become a Reds player on July 1 to end a long-awaited switch that began in August last year when Liverpool struck an unusual deal with RB Leipzig.

Jurgen Klopp had closely tracked the all-action Keita for some time before finally snaring his man 11 months later than he might have wished, but the 23-year-old will complete his dream move to Anfield on Sunday.

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Keita is likely to make his Liverpool debut when the Reds travel to Chester on July 7, and the chatter surrounding the incoming Reds star has been plentiful since his move was confirmed.

He's been described as a heady mix of N'Golo Kante and Andres Iniesta and been talked up as one of the world's best players.

Here's what those close to the player have been saying since the transfer was confirmed.

(Image: Alex Broadway/Getty Images)

“I have contact to a lot of people in the Bundesliga, as you can imagine, and I have never had so many congratulations messages as I had after signing Naby!

“He's the player of the league, that's how it is. Last year, together with Thiago Alcantara who played an outstanding season for Bayern, he was the flier. He's been doing this for two or three years, with different clubs in different leagues, but he's still a young boy.

“It's really good news. OK, we have to wait but sometimes we have to wait for a really good thing. I have no problem with this. I would have preferred, of course, another situation, but it's cool!”

(Image: ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)

"He's fantastic, he's a really really good player. Everything that has been said about him is true. I have no concern about him because I think he is going to do great [at Liverpool].

"He's a good guy and a quiet guy who won't get lost. Liverpool is a super team and I think it is the right move he has made."

Jordan Henderson

(Image: Mike Hewitt - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

"If you play for top teams you are going to sign good players. I have seen Naby play quite a few times and he looks a top, top player. There have been a lot of transfer rumours over the summer and thankfully we ended up doing the business.

"Okay, he comes next year, but I am sure the club are delighted to get him because he will be a real addition to the squad and will hopefully help us over the next few years."

Former RB Leipzig coach, Ralph Hasenhuttl

(Image: Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

"The lad's just that good. He's a pro through and through, he lives and breathes football. Even if he wins the Champions League, Jurgen [Klopp] will be thankful for the reinforcement. He will join an already incredible squad.

"But if there's one player I don't have any fear that he can make it at every club in the world, then that's Naby."

Leipzig chief executive, Oliver Mintzlaff

"Barcelona were also interested in Naby Keita. This was confirmed to us by Barcelona, but obviously they didn't try as hard as Liverpool. He wanted the transfer this summer.

"But [Leipzig sporting director] Ralf Rangnick told the team that we will not sell any players [at that time]. This was not lip service - it was set in stone. Had we released Keita, other players might have come up with a similar idea."

German football journalist, Archie Rhind-Tutt

"It’s the way he is able to get about the pitch so quickly. I can tell you that he very much idolises Andres Iniesta for the way that he plays, and Keita has been known before games this season to watch clips of Iniesta to give him inspiration.

"He’s actually probably a bit quicker than Iniesta, but I would still rather have Iniesta in my side! But that’s the thing, I don’t think you would necessarily associate players who are great passers with being great dribblers as well, but that’s a real quality for Keita.

"He also has this great aggression in the tackle. Ralph Hassenhutl, his coach and one of the top coaches in Europe, put a fine point in sorting out Keita’s defensive style at the start of the season, and the way that he aggressively hoovers the ball up and takes it on has that N’Golo Kante element."