Opinion: Naby Keita may have played final Liverpool game

Add as preferred source on Google

Naby Keita may have played his final game for Liverpool. Reports link the midfielder with a move away.

Guinean journalist Sega Diallo believes at least three teams want to sign Naby Keita this summer. More than that, Liverpool are open to a sale.

You can read out thoughts on that rumour here. But whether it’s true or not, it does make sense. We’re not entirely sure Keita has a place with Liverpool next season.

The Sunday World claims Liverpool are open to selling him, too. It’s not too hard to see why.

Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago are all certainly ahead of Keita in the pecking order. James Milner is, too, and possibly Curtis Jones. The latter is particularly problematic for Keita as he’s six years younger.

As Liverpool look to fund a big summer for the club, moving on someone like Keita is sensible. They could potentially get a lot of money for someone in their prime who they don’t use all that much.

It would be a shame, of course. Keita arrived with immense promise in a £53m deal – it’s tough to give up on him. But he’s now 26 and it’s hard to see how he quickly improves. It’s several years now of not quite fitting in, with few signs that it’s about to turn around.

It would need to be a sizeable offer to let him go, though. Maybe not £53m but certainly enough that Liverpool could replace him adequately with money to spare.

We’ll just have to wait and see if anyone offers that kind of cash.

Has Keita played his last Liverpool game?

Keita hasn’t played since starting at Real Madrid early in April. It’s his only appearance in the last two months because of injury, in fact.

More tellingly, that was only his second start for Liverpool since Christmas. Keita just hasn’t been able to stay fit. And seeing as Keita is currently injured, it’s hard to see how he gets back in time for Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp confirmed on Tuesday that he isn’t training yet and will miss the game with Burnley today. Keita isn’t a player who quickly bounces back and even if he is training by Sunday, we don’t see how he’d be fit enough to play.

This injury, combined with an uncertain future, may mean Keita has played his final game for Liverpool.