This time last year, the big story at Liverpool was Mohamed Salah’s new contract as the Egyptian entered the final 18 months of his deal.
Of course, Salah has since put pen to paper on a new deal, but there’s another contract issue bubbling under the surface at Liverpool, and this one doesn’t look easy to resolve.
We’re talking about Naby Keita’s current situation.
The Guinean has entered the final year of his contract, leaving Liverpool in a very vulnerable position, and things aren’t looking too promising in terms of an extension.
Indeed, according to Bild, this time last year Keita gave the Reds an ultimatum, either hand him a more prominent role in the team or he wouldn’t sign a new contract.
Luckily for Keita, he did get a run of games towards the end of last season, and while injury has sidelined him for the opening salvo of this season, it’s not crazy to assume that he’s slipped further down the pecking order at Anfield.
Harvey Elliott’s emergence as a key player will undoubtedly have a knock-on effect with Keita, Thiago’s recent absence has proven just how important the Spaniard is, while Jordan Henderson remains as the club captain.
Factor in the arrival of Arthur Melo and the ongoing development of Fabio Carvalho, and it looks like Keita won’t be getting the prominent role that he was angling for this time last year.
So now, there is a decision to make. Does Keita live with the fact that he’s going to be more of a rotation option at a club like Liverpool and sign his new contract, or does he let his contract run down and look to join another club, potentially a smaller club, in search of more minutes.
Keita gave an ultimatum this time last year, and Liverpool seemingly aren’t going to keep up their end of the bargain.
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