Barcelona are considering a massive overhaul in the squad over the next few transfer windows, but this will include more exits than entries. Already having signed Ferran Torres from Manchester City earlier in January, the Blaugrana are now looking to off-load some of their existing players like Philippe Coutinho or Ousmane Dembele to accommodate the new arrival.
According to El Nacional, another player they are looking to make a move for is Liverpool’s Naby Keita, who will be running out of contract in 2023, making the upcoming summer the final opportunity for the Reds to avail some returns on the player who cost them nearly 53 million pounds. He has failed to impose himself as a major presence in the Reds midfield since joining in 2018 and made just 92 appearances.
The Guinea international has spent a lot of time injured, which kept the Liverpool fans infuriated, but this season, with the departure of Georginio Wijnaldum in the midfield, the 26-year-old has been getting far more opportunities.
Liverpool legend John Barnes, who deployed himself into a midfield role towards the second half of his career, reckons that Jurgen Klopp will not have lost anything significant if Keita leaves. He feels that Liverpool hasn’t worked for him, and a change would do well to revive his career.
“If they can get money from Barcelona and Naby wants to leave because he’s not playing, then that’s the situation. It hasn’t necessarily worked out for him at Liverpool, so if he leaves it won’t hurt the first team too much.
It’s up to Naby and the club whether or not they decide that’s something worth pursuing,”
Barnes said.
The 26-year-old is also on the radar of West Ham United, who have been looking for more creative presence in their midfield since the departure of Jesse Lingard. Liverpool’s stance on the player is not very clear as it stands, but if a good offer arrives, there is every chance that they will sell the player for nearly half the amount they spent on him initially.
Klopp’s men are currently in the title chase for the Premier League but find themselves 10 points adrift of table-toppers Manchester City. Having won all of their group games in the Champions League, there is no denying that a sixth title is very much on the cards for them.
