Barcelona want Naby Keita as they eye the Liverpool midfielder as one of a host of potential free agent signings for 2023.
Next summer looks set to be a transformative window for Liverpool’s midfield.
Jude Bellingham is the top target for Liverpool but there may be two or three midfielders on Liverpool’s radar as they look to revamp their engine room.
James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are both out of contract at the end of the season and the same goes for Keita too.
Barcelona want Naby Keita
Keita is now attracting interest ahead of his deal ending with Barcelona the latest club to have an eye on his situation.
Catalan newspaper SPORT claim that Barcelona are looking to make a number of free signings next summer to bolster their squad.
They took a similar approach this past summer by signing Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie for nothing.
Barcelona are now looking towards Keita as a potential signing but also seemingly fancy Chelsea duo Jorginho and N’Golo Kante as well as Youri Tielemans and Ilkay Gundogan.
Keita, 27, cost Liverpool a huge £53million back in 2017 before starting his Anfield career a year later.
An outstanding and skilful box-to-box midfielder during his time with RB Leipzig, Keita was expected to become a star with the Reds.
Instead, Keita’s time at Liverpool has felt like a number of false dawns; quality glimpses followed by periods of injury or anonymity in midfield.
Keita hasn’t played a single minute this season with a hamstring injury keeping him on the sidelines.
Seeing a £53million investment leave for nothing would sting for Liverpool but it may be best to just let Keita leave.
The Guinean has had chance after chance to justify that price tag and it still hasn’t happened.
It would be a surprise to see Liverpool keep Keita now and he may well fancy the chance to test himself at Barcelona if they firm up their interest.
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