RB Leipizig midfielder Naby Keita has made claims of interest from Premier League giants Liverpool and Arsenal.
The 21-year-old Guinea international signed for RB Leipzig from Red Bulls Salzburg after a two-year stint during which he won the Austrian league title twice, but insists that the Reds and the Gunners wanted to buy him, as well as Manchester City and Southampton.
"Arsenal, Manchester City and Southampton were all interested in signing me and Liverpool as well, although I did not speak with their coach," Keita told SportNet (H/T theEvening Standard).
"I did not want to join a big Champions League club right away. It is too early for that. I want to prove myself in the Bundesliga first now."
He is already proving to be quite the catch at his new club, and has scored three times this season, including the only goal in their crucial 1-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund last month.
Liverpool and Arsenal, however, made some great signings themselves over the summer. Jurgen Klopp brought in the likes of Sadio Mane, Marko Grujic, Georginio Wijnaldum and Joel Matip, while the Gunners signed a much-needed defender in Shkodran Mustafi.
They also bought Granit Xhaka and Lucas Perez, and all three have been quite impressive thus far.
Both clubs are tied atop the league table with 20 points, and just goal difference separating. Chelsea and Tottenham sit below with 19 points, and are quite desperate to catch up.
Liverpool have looked the best attacking side in the top flight, playing an exciting brand of football -or as Klopp likes to call it 'heavy metal football'. Could it have been louder with Keita in the mix?