Reviews counsel Naby Keita is “sad” along with his “state of affairs” at Liverpool, so what precisely is the issue and the way do the Reds go about fixing it?
The Guinean has now entered the ultimate 12 months of his present contract, with the membership mentioned to have prioritised finalising a brand new deal for him this summer season.
Nonetheless, it’s now emerged that issues will not be so easy, with a supply near the participant’s agent claiming talks over an extension have stalled.
Keita missed Liverpool’s Premier League opener at Fulham because of “sickness” and was an unused substitute of their draw with Crystal Palace.
With Thiago, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones presently out injured, the very last thing Liverpool want is one other disturbance in midfield.
With Jurgen Klopp persevering with to insist the membership are unlikely so as to add their engine room this summer season, what do Liverpool do about Keita?
“Sad along with his present state of affairs” – What state of affairs, precisely?
This summer season, Liverpool have wrapped up contract extensions for James Milner, Mohamed Salah, Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott.
Together with his present deal set to run out on the finish of the 2022/23 season, a brand new deal for Keita was additionally excessive on the agenda, with the membership eager to keep away from the uncertainty of one other participant coming into the ultimate 12 months of his contract with out a decision in sight.
On Wednesday night, Sky Germany‘s Florian Plettenberg reported that Keita “is sad along with his present state of affairs” at Liverpool, with preliminary talks over new phrases breaking down. He additionally added {that a} departure “was potential” this summer season.
Excl. Information Naby #Keita: He’s sad along with his present state of affairs in Liverpool. There have been talks a couple of contract extension however they’ve stopped now. His departure is feasible no matter Thiago and Oxlade-Chamberlain. However early stage. Talks will happen. #LFC @SkySportDE ??
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) August 17, 2022
GOAL‘s Liverpool correspondent Neil Jones had a contrasting story, claiming there’s “little probability” of him leaving the membership this summer season with each events nonetheless planning to agree an extension. That regardless of curiosity from “various European golf equipment,” together with his former aspect RB Leipzig.
It’s value noting, although, that Plettenberg was the primary journalist to report that Sadio Mane can be on his manner out of Anfield this summer season. Keita, in fact, belongs to the identical agent as Mane, with Sky Sports activities‘ Melissa Reddy stating that the supply “has a really shut relationship” with the company.
That might counsel there’s positively one thing behind the claims that Keita is changing into more and more unsettled, and may clarify why he’s but to function for Liverpool within the Premier League this season.
One of many few Klopp signings that hasn’t labored out?
Why would possibly a brand new deal for Keita be proving problematic? As a result of his 4 years on the membership haven’t precisely gone to plan.
The 27-year-old merely can’t be relied on as a primary alternative midfield choice, primarily because of his persistent damage issues, and having splashed out over £52 million to signal him, it’s no actual shock some followers are disillusioned by his time on the membership so ar.
Klopp has backed Keita time and time once more and clearly values him as an vital choice when he’s match
“When Naby was match and Naby may get some rhythm he was all the time actually good, sadly he couldn’t get as a lot rhythm as he wished and as we wished prior to now,” the Liverpool boss mentioned final season.
“The 12 months earlier than (Keita signed) it was Keita and Thiago had been the 2 finest midfielders within the Bundesliga by a distance. So to first get Naby after which Thiago, was clearly a good suggestion.”
Each of these gamers, although, have one factor in frequent, and that’s their unlucky damage information, which should certainly carry into query whether or not they can deal with the bodily calls for Klopp locations on his midfielders.
When match, Keita could be a actual asset. He presents one thing completely different to any of the opposite midfielders at Klopp’s dispoal and, having produced his best-ever tally when it comes to appearances for Liverpool in 2021/22, final season was in all probability his finest but.
Nonetheless, from a enterprise perspective, you possibly can perceive why Liverpool are maybe having reservations about handing one other profitable contract to a participant who can’t all the time be relied on for a full season.
What do Liverpool do?
Put merely, they’ve three choices. Push for a contract settlement earlier than his present deal expires, permit him to go away totally free subsequent summer season or promote earlier than the top of the present window or in January.
The final of these outcomes appears unlikely for now, given the Reds’ in depth damage record. Maybe they might be extra open to a sale if “the best participant,” as Klopp likes to place it, was out there to recruit at current.
Nonetheless, with Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain each prone to go away subsequent summer season, Liverpool will know they’ve some choices to make in midfield.
They proceed to be linked with Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, and also you wouldn’t be in any respect shocked in the event that they had been attempting to wrap up a deal for subsequent summer season forward of time, simply as they did for Keita’s signature in 2017.
Absolutely, although, the membership can be trying to recruit multiple participant in that place, particularly with Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago getting no youthful.
Securing Keita’s providers for an additional few years will surely assist restrict a midfield exodus, however what Liverpool actually need to ask themselves is whether or not he deserves an extension.
A brand new deal on comparable phrases will in all probability attraction to the membership, however has he actually completed sufficient to justify a pay rise?
