Liverpool have kicked off what promises to be a hectic final 72 hours in the transfer window by agreeing a club record deal of £48 million for RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita, who will move to Anfield in a year’s time.

Determined to add quality to his squad, Jurgen Klopp is also trying to secure a high class midfielder and retains a hope negotiations for Southampton’s Virgil Van Dijk can be revived.

After a relatively quite period throughout the summer, with Liverpool adding Mohamed Salah, Dominic Solanke and Andrew Robertson, the remaining days could be frantic.

Keita was Klopp’s prime target throughout the close season but he was frustrated in his efforts to secure the 22-year-old ahead of this campaign.

However, so determined were Liverpool to get their man, they have agreed a deal which is common in Europe with the player moving to Anfield in 2018.

The move is a coup for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool credit: Action Images via Reuters

It was in the mutual interest of Liverpool and RB Leipzig to act now. Keita has an exit clause of £48 million in his contract which can be triggered in 12 months. Leipzig were prepared to negotiate now to secure an additional premium, taking the fee potentially beyond £50 million.

Liverpool were prepared to pay extra to ensure they are not out-flanked in the future, with several others circling around the Guinea midfielder. Barcelona have been linked with the player by Catalan media in recent days, and such is his quality there was a fear numerous Champions League clubs would enter the race to sign him once they have seen him shine on the biggest European stage.

That makes it a transfer a coup for Liverpool, even if their preference was to recruit the player now.

Keita made it clear to his club he wanted the move, but with the Bundesliga side preparing for a Champions League campaign they were not prepared to sanction his salel.

Leipzig never shifted position since Liverpool made their official moves for the player, with respective bids of £57 million and £66 million. Klopp would have broken a club transfer record by £30 million had the last offer been accepted, but the rebuttal of such a staggering sum underlined the Germans were not bluffing with the public statements insisting there would be no business.

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Instead, Keita has undergone a medical and will become the club’s record signing ahead of next year. It is the second time this summer Liverpool have broken the club’s transfer record.

Klopp has a considerable transfer kitty available should the right players become available – that has been the case all summer – but it has been a tricky market.

There is still every chance the Anfield transfer record will be broken a third time. The Merseyside club is prepared to spend whatever it takes to sign Van Dijk – a bid of £70 million is conceivable if they are offered encouragement.

The fear at Anfield remains Southampton will not invite any offers before this week’s deadline. It could be Liverpool must wait until January or next summer for Van Dijk if Saints stand firm and the player is willing to be patient.

Philippe Coutinho will not be sold

Liverpool are also exploring numerous midfield options, none of which are related to Philippe Coutinho’s future. Coutinho will not be sold under any circumstances in this window, regardless of whether Barcelona launch a fourth bid.

It has been widely anticipated Barcelona will make a fresh move and edge closer to 150 million euros for the 25-year-old, but Liverpool would again immediately reject that offer regardless of how eye watering it would be.

Coutinho’s retention is seen as a statement and a symbol of the club Liverpool are trying revive – a club which does not allow its best players to leave, especially when on the cusp of an exciting new era in the Champions League.

As with Barcelona’s first approaches, the timing is wrong and FSG public statement underlining their ‘definitive’ stance will not be reversed.