Jurgen Klopp was unrelenting in his pursuit of Red Bull Leipzig star Keita this summer.
And his persistence paid off after Leipzig finally agreed to sell the Guinea international for a premium on top of his £48million fee.
However, Keita, who had a medical at the Reds’ Melwood training complex, won’t formally make the move to Anfield until July next year.
The transfer is quite eye-catching as Keita has seen his stock rise in the Bundesliga.
But The Times journalist Joyce thinks there will be an air of disappointment on Anfield that Keita was not able to make the switch this window.
The 22-year-old, Joyce notes in his report for The Times, will add drive and intensity to the Reds’ midfield.
Other reports have suggested Klopp isn’t finished with his transfer business and the Reds are plotting a £200m spree.
Joyce also believes the Reds were late at realising Keita’s abilities, however insists his dynamism fits into Klopp’s style of play.
The box-to-box midfielder scored seven goals and chipped in with the same amount of assists in Germany’s top flight last term.
His worth was highlighted by the fact he was included in the Bundesliga’s team of the season for 2016/17.
After Keita, moves are being lined up for Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk and Monaco star Thomas Lemar.
Van Dijk has been problematic so far, despite the player currently training with the Saints’ Under-18s.
A bid of £60m for Lemar is being lined up, with Klopp keen to make world-class additions to his squad.