By Noel Whelan

15th Apr, 2019 | 2:03pm

'He's perfect'- Exclusive: Whelan in awe of Liverpool midfielder who's 'going to be a superstar'

Naby Keita now looks worth every penny of the £52million Liverpool spent on signing him from RB Leipzig, according to Noel Whelan.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds United and Coventry City striker hailed the 23-year-old as “perfect” for the team’s style of player and destined “to be a superstar” at Anfield.

Keita has been in and out of the starting XI since joining last summer from RB Leipzig but has started the last three matches and responded with two goals and a fine display in Sunday’s impressive 2-0 win over Chelsea.

The Guinea international is starting to show why Liverpool were prepared to wait a year to get him after agreeing terms with Leipzig in the summer of 2017.

“He has a great engine, can get around the pitch, he’s technically sound and can drive forward with the ball, which gives the team something different,” said Whelan to Football Insider. “Liverpool have lots of good midfielders but Keita is the one who can burst forward and go past opponents. He’s got the stepovers and the move.

“Now he is getting used to what the manager wants from him, you can see how he is perfect for the team’s style of play. In that number eight role, he’s going to be a superstar who scores and creates lots of goals.

“Keita now looks well worth the asking price paid last summer.”

Keita has made 30 appearances for Liverpool, 19 of which have been in the starting XI.

The Guinea international will be hoping to keep his place for the fourth consecutive match when the Merseysiders travel to Porto for Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg with a 2-0 advantage from the first game.

In other Liverpool news, the club are set to sell Klopp’s first signing for a £20million-plus fee after his quit plan is revealed.