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Italian Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed Liverpool’s latest priority is to tie down Naby Keita to a new contract this summer, as the Guinean’s current deal is set to expire next summer.
The 27-year-old, who joined Liverpool in 2018, has been tentatively linked with the likes of Inter Milan and PSG this transfer window, but his current club are keen to extend his contract.
Fabrizio Romano believes Liverpool’s business concerning incomings could be all wrapped up now.
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As such, despite the wishes of some Reds fans, a new midfielder won’t be recruited this summer.
It is therefore important that Liverpool hold on to what they already have.
Takumi Minamino is set to leave Merseyside in the coming days, with Monaco a likely destination, in a deal worth £17 million.
Thereafter, Liverpool will be left with six senior midfield options plus Harvey Elliot and Fabio Carvalho.
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These will be the sort of numbers Jürgen Klopp wants to be able to pick from in the middle of the park next season.
Many of his regular starters are ageing, meaning they won’t be able to play week in week out for Liverpool in the new campaign.
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Rotation is thus essential, so players like Naby Keita will need to be kept around. Extending his deal in itself will also be important to Liverpool.
He is one of 5 current Reds players whose contract expires in June 2023, and the Anfield club will want to ensure these players aren’t able to leave the club for nothing next year.
One of those players is of course Sadio Mané. Liverpool can now say with certainty that they won’t be losing him on a free, as his £31.5 million switch to Bayern Munich is all but complete.
Keita will be pleased to be offered a new contract by Liverpool, but one hopes he’ll be demanding more from himself next season.
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He has failed to meet the lofty expectations many had for him when he joined the club from Leipzig, and needs to offer more consistency.
That said, Keita enjoyed one of his best seasons in a Liverpool shirt last term, and probably deserves the new contract. However, Kopites will be wanting even more from their Guinean midfielder next time round.
Topics: Liverpool, Liverpool Transfer News & Rumours, Fabrizio Romano, Naby Keita