Galatasaray want to sign Liverpool’s Naby Keita by the end of May with the Premier League midfielder giving a move to Turkey the ‘green light’, according to Sporx.
The Super Lig is a popular destination for talented players falling upon hard times. And Keita, a ‘liability’ in his disastrous 45 minute outing against Crystal Palace on Saturday, may fit right in alongside Nicolo Zaniolo, Milot Rashica and Mauro Icardi in Istanbul.
Keita’s Liverpool contract expires in July. It seems highly unlikely that he will sign a new one. Or be offered one, for that matter. The Guinea international has started just three Premier League games during another injury-hit campaign, and is likely to one of the first players shipped out the door as Liverpool embark upon a much-needed and overdue overhaul.
Keita, per BILD, saw a return to RB Leipzig blocked in January. With Liverpool’s midfield options stretched to their limits, Jurgen Klopp had little interest in letting his £53 million man go in the midst of a hectic fixture schedule.
Will Naby Keita leave Liverpool for Galatasaray?
Time will tell whether Leipzig return for Keita in the summer. The Bundesliga dark horses have already confirmed the £17 million signing of fellow midfielder Nicolas Siewald from sister club Red Bull Salzburg.
Borussia Dortmund is another potential destination for Keita, who earns a reported £120,000-a-week on Merseyside. Liverpool may hope that, with him moving in the other direction, they can convince an in-form BVB outfit to let Jude Bellingham go 12 months ahead of schedule.
But do not count out Galatasaray. Keita, Sporx say, has already given the ‘green light’ to a fresh start in Turkey. The 22-time Super Lig champions are ‘very hopeful’ of winning the race. They want Keita in the building by May 31st.
The 28-year-old is not the only one entering his final few months as a Liverpool player.
“I think there’s a rebuild needed,” the former Anfield favourite Danny Murphy tells talkSPORT. “And by that I mean players out the door and a few more in.
“Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is out of contract, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Naby Keita go. I’m not sure James Milner is going to stay for another year. If he does, he won’t be playing much. That’s three midfielders (leaving).
“The midfield needs freshening up.”
“I think that area of the pitch is going to need a bit of surgery. I think it’s going to happen in the summer,” Michael Owen adds, via Premier League Productions.
“Everyone can see it. Jurgen Klopp can see it. Naby Keita is just not good enough for a midfielder, in my opinion, for Liverpool.”
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