Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp can finally ditch Naby Keita
Liverpool have several players coming to the end of their contracts in the summer and now a new update has emerged on one of the players’ future from a reliable source.
What’s the latest?
Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has hinted that Naby Keita could be set to leave Liverpool this summer as a free agent with no progress in any contract negotiations.
Romano tweeted: “No changes for Naby Keita situation. No advanced talks to sign new deal with Liverpool as this stage, he could leave as free agent.
“Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita and Milner situations, to be clarified soon as LFC board keep following Matheus Nunes among midfield options.”
Time to go
There is no doubt that Jurgen Klopp will be feeling extremely frustrated with the unfolding situation at Anfield as Liverpool have had an incredibly rapid downfall from their exciting quadruple run over last season.
The Reds are currently tenth in the Premier League table after 20 outings with several poor performances leaving the side 11 points adrift of the Champions League qualifying spots inside the top four and have already been knocked out of both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup competitions.
As a result, a refresh is very much-needed in the team with the successful squad of the past turning stale this season.
Indeed, despite making an effort to strengthen the attacking threat in the team, the midfield continues to be a major cause for concern.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Keita are all out of contract at the end of this season whilst Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson are both in the latter stages of their careers, so injecting some new additions and youth into the centre of the pitch would be hugely advantageous for Klopp.
If none of the midfielder’s contracts are extended over the coming months it would take more than just one or two statement signings to bring Liverpool back to life this summer, however, letting go of Keita would likely be the best outcome for the club to move forward.
The £120k-per-week player – who was dubbed “careless” by John Aldridge – has never been able to hit the ground running at Anfield with several injury problems making him an unreliable and inconsistent feature over his five-year spell on Merseyside despite costing the club a whopping £52.57m.
Should Liverpool let Keita go on a free?
Yes
No
Keita has had 18 separate instances of injury, amounting to over a year of his contract in recovery for various issues and has tallied up just 127 appearances, averaging 25.4 per season which is incredibly low considering Liverpool played 63 games alone last term.
With that being said, it is definitely time for Keita to leave Liverpool and move on to his next venture, making way for new additions who can deliver availability and the quality needed for the side to get back to competing for trophies and dominance in the Premier League next season.
