RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff has revealed that Liverpool had to fight off rival interest in midfielder Naby Keita from Spanish giants Barcelona in order to push through their deal for the Guinean.
The 22-year-old was Liverpool's main target all summer and and after weeks and months of negotiating, the 'Reds' eventually agreed a deal that will see the midfielder make the move to Anfield next summer for a club record £55m.
However, it has now emerged that Barcelona were also interested in the versatile midfielder, making Liverpool's capture of the player all the more impressive.
Speaking to German publication 'Bild', Mintzlaff admitted that Jurgen Klopp's determination had been key in pushing through a move for the player.
'That's right, even more so because Barcelona were also interested in Naby Keita,' he explained.
'This was confirmed to us by Barcelona, but obviously they didn't try as hard as Liverpool.'
Mintzlaff also revealed that Liverpool may have been able to do the deal in the summer, had it not been for a promise made by sporting director Ralph Rangnick.
'Keita wanted the transfer this summer,' he admitted. 'But (sporting director) Ralf Rangnick had 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.
'It (the Liverpool deal) gave the player more security, but also left us with a significantly higher transfer fee.'