Liverpool are hoping to be able to tie Naby Keita down to a new contract as his deal enters the last 12 months.
That’s according to The Athletic, who claim that a new contract for the midfielder is on the to-do list at Anfield.
Keita’s current deal will run out in 2023 and there’s no indication that discussions over a renewal have started.
However, it appears to be something Liverpool will look to sort out over the coming weeks.
New deal for Naby
It’s unfortunate that the lasting image of Keita’s 2021/22 season will be the sight of him ballooning a shot wide of the goal in the Champions League final.
Up until that point, it had surely been his best season in a Liverpool shirt. The 27-year-old is seemingly finally free from the niggling injuries he has continually picked up during his time on Merseyside.
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This led to some excellent performances in Jurgen Klopp’s midfield, and he even started both domestic cup finals. Klopp himself called his midfielder ‘outstanding’ via liverpoolfc.com.
Unfortunately though, at the end of the day, it’s his sliced effort high and wide in Paris that sticks in the memory.
Nevertheless, the Guinean thoroughly deserves a new deal and another shot at becoming a nailed on starter next season.
There were reports from French media yesterday that PSG were looking to recruit Keita this summer. But it looks as though that will now be put to bed.
No such luck for Ox
Also included in the report from The Athletic is a line on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s Liverpool future.
He too is set to be a free agent in 2023. But there is no mention of a new contract for the midfielder. Instead, it’s reported that the 28-year-old’s future depends on whether he pushes for a move.
That indicates that Liverpool are willing to hold onto him and lose him on a free next year. Other reports claim that The Reds will look to move him on in the window.
It was always unlikely that both Keita and Ox would be offered fresh terms to stay at the club. As Naby has proven over the second-half of the season, he’s currently more key to Klopp’s team than the Englishman.