Barcelona in pole position to sign Liverpool star Naby Keita
According to Spanish news outlet El Nacional (h/t Liverpool Echo), Barcelona are said to be in pole position to sign Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita.
The Guinea international has been linked with a move away from Anfield in recent weeks, and Barcelona are frontrunners to sign the player at the end of the season.
Jurgen Klopp does not seem to have plans to keep Keita in his squad for next season, with Bayern Munich, West Ham, AC Milan and Roma also credited with an interest in signing the Guinean.
Klopp signed Keita from RB Leipzig in 2018 for €60million. However, in the three years that followed, the midfielder never really broke into Liverpool’s starting XI, with injuries and inconsistency in form denting his chances.
One of the Bundesliga’s star attractions while playing for RB Leipzig, Keita has not been able to perform at the same level at Anfield. While he has had his moments, it has come few and far between.
Klopp seems to have seen enough of the 26-year-old and has reportedly placed him on the transfer list at Anfield for the upcoming summer transfer window.
With the African star’s contract expiring in 2023, Liverpool have not shown any interest in extending the midfielder’s contract and will look to get a fee for his sale than lose him for free next summer.
The Reds’ midfield has not hit their mark this season, and Keita too is to blame, with his performances not consistent enough to deserve a starting spot. Average showings in games this season too could have resulted in Klopp deciding to let go of the Guinea international.
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Keita is currently with his international side Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations. If he does want to stay at Liverpool, the midfielder would need to put in some excellent performances in the middle of the park at the tournament to convince Klopp of his qualities and work his way into the German’s plans past the summer.
