Transfer News: Liverpool could swap Naby Keita for Juventus star Adrien Rabiot
According to Italian outlet Calciomercato (h/t Liverpool Echo), Liverpool are considering a swap deal which would see Naby Keita and Adrien Rabiot exchange places.
The Guinean midfielder has been linked with another swap deal involving Nicolo Barella of Inter Milan, but now seems like he could swap places with the Juventus star instead.
Keita moved to Liverpool from RB Leipzig several years back but his time at Anfield has been marred by injuries. Nevertheless, he has impressed whenever he has been called upon by Jurgen Klopp.
His most recent season was perhaps his best for us as he saw regular playing time in the Premier League as well as in the cup competitions. Rabiot, on the other hand, is 27 and the promise he showed during his early years at PSG has faded with time.
A foolish proposition
He is a regular at Juventus but doesn’t really stand out for his team. With Paul Pogba potentially moving to Allianz Stadium from Manchester United as a free agent this summer, it is clear that Rabiot could struggle for consistent starts.
Hence, while LFC moving for the Juve star makes sense for both parties, swapping Keita seems a bit odd, that too considering the Italian giants value Rabiot at just £17million.
The point of adding Rabiot to our ranks would be to sort out our midfield for the next few years at the very least. Keita, at 27, is one of our younger players in that position with Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, and James Milner well into their 30s.
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Hence, while our pursuit of Rabiot makes sense, swapping Keita is a move we must avoid at all costs. His dribbling and defensive skills in the heart of our midfield make him an asset that should be complemented, rather than replaced, in our midfield by Rabiot.
