Liverpool 'increasingly confident' of agreeing deal with £45m+ midfielder

Liverpool have begun negotiations with Naby Keita over a new deal, with the midfielder’s contract set to expire next summer.

Keita arrived at Anfield in 2018 from RB Leipzig, for a fee believed to be in the region of £48 million.

The Guinea international has endured a difficult time on Merseyside, plagued by persistent injuries which have ultimately contributed to him making just 76 Premier League appearances across four seasons.

Reports emerged in the summer that the 27-year-old was keen on a move away from Liverpool as he was unhappy at contract negotiations stalling.

However, Jurgen Klopp has been eager to tie Keita down to a new deal, and according to Football Insider, Liverpool are ‘increasingly confident’ in securing Keita’s future. 

The report suggests that the Reds do not want to lose the playmaker for free in 2023, so are desperate to extend his contract in order to maintain his market value.

With the likes of Borussia Dortmund and former club RB Leipzig supposedly interested in signing him, a new deal may well not rule out a move next summer, but instead be designed for Liverpool to protect their asset.

Nevertheless, Klopp has been vocal about his admiration for Keita on numerous occasions, and last season saw the player enjoy his best campaign at Anfield.

The former RB Salzburg man managed 40 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals, in the only campaign thus far that he’s played over 33 times since his move to England.

Furthermore, with the likes of Thiago Alcantara, James Milner and Jordan Henderson all on the wrong side of 30, Liverpool may need to hang on to some of their prime age midfielders as they rebuild that area of the pitch.

While new faces are likely to be added to the midfield cohort, retaining some of the current players will be necessary for stability.

Keita has yet to feature for Klopp’s side this season, but given the Reds’ problems in this area of the pitch, once he’s fit you’d expect him to play a pivotal role.