Transfer News: Naby Keita lined up for Liverpool exit as summer transfer budget is revealed

According to ESPN (h/t Mirror), Liverpool are willing to axe midfielder Naby Keita as a way of increasing their summer transfer budget.

The Reds have a budget of around £50m this summer. And further sales of players could see that amount increase, with Keita one of the names suggested.

The Guinean midfielder has made only 7 Premier League starts this season. That is a statistic that won’t surprise many Liverpool fans considering his injuries over the years.

And that has been the story ever since he joined the club from RB Leipzig. Injuries and fitness setbacks have ensured that the 26-year-old does not get an extended run with the first-team.

Naby Keita on his way out?

Jurgen Klopp has already started the transfer window in blockbuster fashion with the signing of Ibrahima Konate. The French centre-back is expected to partner Virgil van Dijk in defence next season.

And apart from this, the aforementioned transfer budget could be put towards signing a central midfielder with Georginio Wijnaldum’s departure all but confirmed. However, the report

It remains to be seen who we go after in the transfer window. A midfielder seems necessary considering the Dutchman’s exit while a forward also makes sense with the AFCON coming up next season.

If Keita is sold, then signing a central midfielder would become all the more essential. Thiago Alcantara has been magnificent since coming in but one injury to him, Jordan Henderson, or Fabinho could impact Liverpool’s season.

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But defence is an area we can now afford to relax about. While we did have defensive issues last year, Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, and Joe Gomez would all be back next season. Add to that Ibrahima Konate, and we have a star-studded backline.