Despite being one of the hottest transfer stories of last summer, it's often forgotten that Naby Keita is actually a Liverpool player.

Keita hasn't received a great deal of coverage in England following his performances in Germany, having hugely impressed in RB Leipzig's debut campaign in the Bundesliga last term, helping them to finish second.

He got eight goals and seven assists in 31 games for Die Rotten Bullen from midfield, as the club secured automatic qualification to the Champions League group stages.

That persuaded Liverpool to make him their top target, and after what seemed like months of negotiating they finally agreed a deal of £55m for the Guinea international, including loaning him back to the Germans for the entirety of this season.

The Reds reportedly tried to pay an extra £13m to get him to Anfield last month, but Leipzig swiftly rejected that deal, supposedly wanting an enormous fee to agree to any early release deal.

But it hasn't been smooth sailing for Keita or the Bundesliga side during their second season in the division.

Leipzig were knocked out of the Champions League group stages with just two wins, and they're third in the league, 18 points behind runaway leaders Bayern Munich.

Keita on the other hand has been sent off three times this term, including once for his country, and his form has undoubtedly dipped from the heights he hit previously.

He's scored only three times and managed two assists in 16 appearances, while his conduct is obviously a cause for concern.

Keita famously made the news for a two-footed lunge on his team-mate Diego Demme during a training session last year, while there was speculation about Liverpool's interest gathering pace.

And Reds' fans will be even more worried now that his manager, Ralph Hasenhuttl, has publicly criticised the Guinea star's form.

Leipzig's boss claims he must regain his consistency, and believes his levels have definitely dropped this term.

"Naby is not as consistent this year as last year," Hasenhuttl told Sport Bild, per the Mail. 

"It's important that he brings his expectations back to normal levels.

"I'm not one who wants to motivate with fear. I don't immediately get the whip out in the classic sense and I don't kick the players non-stop."

Alarm bells will be ringing at Anfield, given the huge fee they've shelled out for his services, and a notable drop in form and his behaviour both on and off the pitch.

Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp will no doubt be hoping that when he officially becomes a Red in June, he will start to buck his ideas up.