Liverpool pull the plug on Naby Keita contract talks
Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita runs out of contract next summer (Transfermarkt), and there seem to be no conversations on a new deal for the 27-year-old Guinean international. Injury issues and a flurry of inconsistent performances sum up the former RB Leipzig midfielder’s Liverpool career.
At times, the player looks like he could dominate against a midfield trio of Xavi, Iniesta and Sergio Busquests but that today appears fanciful to say the least. However, last season showed a glimpse of hope as the player probably had his best season in a Liverpool shirt.
This season, the player has made seven appearances across all competitions. Nonetheless, as it stands, the player will call it curtains on his career at Merseyside at the end of this campaign. Football Insider via Liverpool Echo claims Keita stands expected to leave after a ‘collapse’ in contract talks.
123 appearances, 11 goals and seven assists certainly do not make justice to the £52.75 million Liverpool paid for the player back in 2018 given the hype surrounding his arrival as well. There is still an outside chance for him to sign a new deal if he could somehow manage to impact the Reds’ play but still, the likelihood remains that he departs the club.
Keita could leave the Reds
Moreover, with him also appearing to leave the club alongside James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, both of whom also run out of contract this summer, the need for reinforcements becomes much more important.
Klopp has also reached the limit of what he can do with his current midfielders and it will be refreshing to see what the German could do with sizable investment in the summer window as his efforts have not been matched by that of the owners. Having said that, the manager is also not completely blameless about the situation we find ourselves in.
To replace Keita, it is important that we sign someone who is young, and not half as injury-prone as the Guinean as that will certainly not help if we sign an injury-prone player to replace the President of the Association of glass-built players.
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- Bacary Sagna believes that Liverpool will not finish in the top four of the Premier League
It is about time we thank Keita for his services and move on. Replacing injury-prone players should be among the top priorities for the club and someone like Keita as well, who on top of that is very inconsistent with his performances and certainly cannot be banked upon when actually needed.
