According to Sky journalist Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita’s future is still up in the air because negotiations for a new contract are now at a standstill.
On Monday night, the Reds meet Manchester United in a crucial Premier League match. Keita, who scored the opening goal in the previous season’s 5-0 rout, will be hoping to play at Old Trafford.
Although Jurgen Klopp wants the Guinean to stay at Anfield, there have been rumors that the 27-year-old could leave this summer. This is because he hasn’t been getting much playing time lately.
After his current deal with Liverpool expires in 2023, Keita will be free to leave the club after having joined for £52.75 million four years prior.
No progress in Keita’s future, according to Sky Journalist
On Sunday, Sky journalist Plettenberg said on Twitter that the 27-year-prospective old’s participation versus United might be key to his future because negotiations for a new contract had not yet advanced.
He said:
“Update #Keita: Very important game against @ManUtd regarding his plans in this transfer window. Nothing has changed. #LFC wants to extend, Klopp wants him to stay. But talks have stopped, an agreement is not in sight at this stage. He wants to play regularly.”
Keita should not be sold this summer unless Liverpool has a perfect complement successor in mind. Especially with Thiago now down with an injury and midfield being a general area of concern.
When healthy and on-point, the 27-year-old still plays great football. Virgil van Dijk has even called him as “world-class”. And it is expected that he will decide to extend his stay.
The only midfielder to score more goals than Keita at Anfield last season was Fabinho. So, the African can be a key player in terms of disrupting the play and having an impact in the final third. Only Kostas Tsimikas won more tackles per game than Keita there.
It’s true that the Guinean has occasionally failed, primarily because of injuries. However, he is at the prime of his footballing ability, unlike teenagers Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones. He is also better than veteran pros Jordan Henderson and James Milner. And a start at Old Trafford tonight could help the situation.
