Liverpool need ‘frank discussions’ with £130k-a-week ‘passenger’ at Anfield – GiveMeSport

Liverpool need to open ‘frank discussions’ over Naby Keita’s future as he has become a ‘passenger’ at Anfield, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Merseyside giants parted with £52.75million in order to sign the midfielder from RB Leipzig in 2018, but it seems his days with the Reds could be numbered.

What’s the latest news involving Keita?

Keita is set to enter the final six months of his £130,000-per-week contract in January, meaning the winter window will be Liverpool’s final opportunity to cash-in.

It is understood that Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has put the 27-year-old, along with Nathaniel Phillips and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, on the transfer market ahead of the turn of the year.

But it appears Keita, a 46-cap Guinea international, will not be short of options as he looks for a fresh challenge away from Anfield.

That is because AC Milan, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Borussia Dortmund are reportedly mulling over whether to head to the negotiating table.

It emerged in August that Keita was unhappy after discussions over a Liverpool contract extension broke down.

Read more: January Transfer Window 2023: When Does It Begin, Rumours and Everything You Need To Know

What has Dean Jones said about Keita?

Jones believes Liverpool need to make holding talks with Keita a priority as the winter window draws closer.

The transfer insider feels Klopp has to discover whether the former Red Bull Salzburg man has any interest in remaining on Merseyside.

But, in any event, Jones reckons Keita’s injury problems have resulted in Liverpool being unable to rely on his services.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “When you look at his contract situation now, you’ve got to be open-minded and have frank discussions with the player about what his future looks like and what he wants because Liverpool can’t have passengers, at this moment, in their squad.”

Should Liverpool sell Keita in January?

Injuries have restricted Keita to just one appearance since the season got underway, with that coming in Liverpool’s Community Shield win over Manchester City.

Although he recently returned to first-team training, the central midfielder is still not in contention to feature in Klopp’s side and is highly unlikely to be involved ahead of the World Cup.

Keita has missed more than 80 fixtures during his time with Liverpool and that is a clear indication of it being the right time for the club to part ways with the Guinean.

The biggest difficulty for Klopp, who has been in the Anfield dugout since October 2015, will be finding a club which is willing to part with a considerable transfer fee when such a woeful injury record is taken into account.

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