Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita is likely to follow Roberto Firmino out of the Anfield exit door this summer.
That’s according to journalist Fabrizio Romano. Expanding on yesterday’s big news that Firmino is about to call it quits after eight years at Liverpool, Romano Tweeted that Keita could be about to do the same.
“Not just Roberto Firmino. There are currently no talks between Liverpool and Naby Keita over new contract and he could be next one to leave on a free, together with Oxlade-Chamberlain,” wrote the journalist.
As well as Bobby, Naby and Ox, Romano also claims that Arthur Melo is another ‘expected’ to leave Liverpool at the end of the season.
“Arthur Melo, also expected to leave; LFC are not planning to trigger the buy option,” he explained.
Liverpool lose big on trio
Keita’s situation has been brewing for quite some time. It would now be a huge shock if he were to do anything except depart Liverpool this summer.
That was in contrast to Firmino, who had reportedly been close to agreeing a new deal as recently as last month.
From reports coming out yesterday, it also seems as though Liverpool and in particular Jurgen Klopp wanted Bobby to stay. He was still seen to have a future at the club. The same cannot be said of Keita. Last week’s dismal display from Liverpool’s No.8 against Crystal Palace appears to have been the final nail in the coffin.
The 28-year-old has at times shown that he be the ‘incredible’ player Klopp has often insisted that he is. But he just hasn’t done it often enough.
As a result, the £48m Liverpool spent on Keita is now going down the drain. Coupled with the £29m paid for Firmino and the £35m shelled out on Oxlade-Chamberlain, that’s a lot of money that the Reds aren’t going to recoup.
With the trio not in his plans for next season, it will be interesting to see how Klopp plans on using them now. Liverpool still have a big top four fight on their hands and they need players who are committed to the cause. Therefore, don’t be too surprised if we don’t see all that much of Naby, Bobby and Ox in the last part of this season.