Liverpool star is now set to leave the club

Liverpool star Naby Keita is set to leave the Reds after the club pulled the plug on transfer talks, according to reports.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have endured a difficult start to the season. Going into the World Cup break the Merseyside club are sixth in the Premier League, some seven points off the Champions League spots.

Liverpool’s midfield in particular has looked leggy and suffered a spate of injuries this term.

With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set to depart next summer, it appears that Keita will also join him out of the exit door.

Is Keita set to leave Anfield?

According to Football Insider, Keita will not sign a new contract at Liverpool. The 27-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, had held talks with the Reds to extend his stay on Merseyside.

But such negotiations have allegedly failed to result in an agreement, and it is now likely the Guinea star will leave on a free transfer next summer.

While Klopp remains a big admirer of Keita, Liverpool reportedly wanted the player to take a pay cut due to his poor appearance record.

Football Insiders claim that Liverpool will be willing to listen for offers for Kieta in January, though the Guinea star is likely to delay his exit until the summer when he will be a free agent and be able to command a better contract.

Injury prone

A series of injuries have plagued Kieta’s Liverpool career. Indeed he has only played 26 percent of the Premier League minutes available since arriving at the club in 2018.

In turn, since signing from RB Leipzig for £52million, the player’s value has diminished significantly.

This term Keita has not featured since Liverpool’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City in July.

Meanwhile, across his four-and-a-half years at Anfield, the midfielder has made just 117 appearances, scoring 11 goals.