According to David Van den Broeck, on loan OH Leuven midfielder Mandela Keita is of interest to Leeds, Blackburn and Norwich. Antwerp have a €10m purchase option on the midfielder as part of the loan agreement. Keita joined Antwerp in the January transfer window to help the club deal with a mounting central midfield injury crisis. The 20-year-old has been impressive in his time with the club, creating a strong partnership with the teenage Arthur Vermeeren. Vermeeren himself is likely to be one to watch this summer as clubs come calling for the impressive youngster.
Antwerp will be hoping that, should they exercise the purchase option, the attractiveness of European football will be enough to persuade Keita to join permanently over the riches of English football. If not, the player will then return to Leuven where he has a contract until 2025. It is likely that they will cash in on the midfielder if the price is near the €10m that they had agreed with Antwerp.
Keita has been capped four times by the Belgian U21, but is also eligible to represent Guinea at international level should he so choose.
