Jurgen Klopp plays down speculation of star midfielder’s departure

Jurgen Klopp denies any intention of selling Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita this summer

According to the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has clearly stated that he is not interested In selling Naby Keita this summer. Having said that, he also added that the club would obviously look to replace him should the 27-year-old decide to move on from Merseyside.

Keita is in the final year of his contract at Liverpool, and extension talks have come to a halt over his unhappiness with the situation at Liverpool. The Guinean joined the Reds in the summer of 2018 for a sum of £52.7m

“No, there’s no chance. Naby will not go but if he would, which he will not do, there must be a replacement, of course. It’s clear.”

The midfielder’s time at Liverpool has been a combination of injuries and inconsistent performances. The player, unfortunately, hasn’t lived up to the hype and expectations. In 117 appearances, the Guinean has scored 11 goals and seven assists.

Jurgen Klopp talked about the situation and made his intentions crystal clear regarding Keita. He is not keen to sell the midfielder this summer. With just days to go in the transfer window, replacing him will prove to be a difficult task.

“Do we sell Naby now and not replace him? No, that is not possible. Of course not. But it is not the plan. We are done, so we don’t think that a player can go and we don’t replace him.

An ideal replacement for a player like Naby would be someone like Ismael Bennacer from AC Milan. The Algerian is also in superb form and is also set to become a free agent in the summer of 2024.

Furthermore, Klopp spoke about how Naby leaving is not the ideal situation. But in case he does, the club will certainly look to replace him. Despite Keita having a very good 2021/22 season with the Reds, his future at the club certainly looks a bit bleak.

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Keita’s future with the Reds heavily depends on his performance against Manchester United on Monday. Before the transfer deadline, Liverpool play two more fixtures against AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United. Whether the Guinean can make a case for himself remains to be seen.