Liverpool have opened contract talks with Guinea international Naby Keita, despite interest from PSG in the midfielder, according to Football Insider
The former RB Leipzig man has blown hot and cold during his time at Anfield. Sometimes, he’s been exactly what Liverpool fans have wanted from their more offensively oriented midfielder in Jürgen Klopp’s 4-3-3 system. On other occasions, he simply appears anonymous.
However, the Reds have clearly seen enough from the man that arrived at the club in 2019 to believe he deserves a contract extension. His current deal expires in 2023. With five other Liverpool stars also set to see their contracts expire, Keita is one of a few who Liverpool will want to make sure doesn’t leave them for nothing.
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The 27-year-old will likely face fierce competition for his starting spot during the next campaign. He is already regularly kept out of the side by the likes of Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, Harvey Elliot, and others, but next season there could be another competitor with Liverpool on the hunt for a new midfielder. The likes of Gavi, Jude Bellingham, and Ibrahim Sangare have been linked with a switch to the reds.
He is a player who has unfortunately spent a fair chunk of his Liverpool career on the injury table. He has only managed to start more than 15 games in one Premier League season once since joining the club. The most with Leipzig was only 29. The Guinean midfielder clearly has availability issues.
Nevertheless, Liverpool clearly view him as an important member of the dressing room and have thus decided to open contract negotiations with him. He’ll provide important depth next season if he can remain available with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Takumi Minamino set to depart. Competition from a new signing could also bring the best out of him.
Football Insider believes it’d be a new long-term deal for Keita. He signed a 5-year deal when he initially moved to Merseyside, and it would appear the new deal will be similar in that regard. If he is to sign, he’ll be the second Liverpool midfielder to extend his contract this summer after James Milner signed on the dotted line last week.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Liverpool, Naby Keita, Jurgen Klopp