Sawt Falasteen - Klopp 'decisive' in move to Leipzig, says Bakayoko

With links to Premier League sides Everton and Nottingham Forest as well as Borussia Dortmund, the in-demand Bakayoko, 22, signed with Leipzig in July.

The winger was one of several young additions to Leipzig's squad in the first transfer window under Klopp, who took over as Red Bull's global head of football in January.

In an interview with AFP and other media on Tuesday, Bakayoko revealed Klopp's role in recruitment and said his chat with the former Liverpool coach was the "decision point" for the move.

"When I had the talk with Jurgen Klopp, for me I thought 'OK, I have to go'.

"That was the trigger point for me to say: OK.

"(Klopp said) we are here to make you better. We need you. And that's what I want.

"So it was a perfect match."

Red Bull own RB Leipzig as well as clubs in Austria, the United States, Brazil and Japan and hold minority stakes in Paris FC and Leeds United.

The winger said teammate Xavi Simons, who has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, was not distracted by the transfer speculation as the pre-season preparations have continued.

"When you're good, that's what happens. (Rumours) are just a part of it.

"Xavi is really professional. He doesn't look like a player that's been linked to other clubs."

A PSV youth product, Bakayoko has played 18 times for Belgium, scoring once.

Leipzig start their Bundesliga campaign away at defending champions Bayern Munich on Friday.

W.Mansour--SF-PST