Liverpool have been urged to sell Naby Keita this summer, with the Liverpool Echo being told by Jordan Chamberlain that they should cash in.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Chamberlain said: “I think Keita is a potentially brilliant footballer, but I’d cash in if someone came in with £30m-plus.
“He’s been with us for three seasons and there’s only been a handful of good patches between the injuries.”
The Guinean arrived at Anfield for a fee in the region of £52million and was expected to take the Premier League by storm.
He started brightly and was a part of a free-flowing Liverpool side but injury after injury has seen his reputation damaged and he is quite far down in the midfield pecking order now.
MADRID – SPAIN – APRIL 6, Naby Keita is substituted before halftime in Liverpool’s quarter-final tie against Real Madrid. (Photo by The Top Flight)
Keita’s greatest strength is his ability to slalom through congested midfield areas and the hope from Liverpool is that he overcomes his injury problems and takes full advantage of his incredible potential.
If he does that, there is no telling what he can do next season. Thiago Alacantara is likely the midfielder that is playing in the position that he would take up if fully fit and in Jurgen Klopp’s favour.
Keita is facing an uphill battle to displace him after the fantastic finish to the season from the Spaniard.
Thiago suffered an injury of his own last season after being scythed down by Richarlison in the Merseyside Derby and while he didn’t break his leg, there was serious trauma to his knee and it’s very fortunate that he didn’t suffer any long-lasting damage.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 17: (THE SUN OUT. THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Richarlison of Everton takes out Thiago Alcantara of Liverpool with a tackle that gets him the red card during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on October 17, 2020 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
While Georginio Wijnaldum’s contract with Liverpool is set to expire at the end of June, it’s not as though there aren’t quality options available to Jurgen Klopp in central midfield with Jordan Henderson expected to be fit for the start of the season.
The importance of having the former Sunderland star fit cannot be overstated and is one of the overlooked reasons for Liverpool’s demise this season after he underwent surgery on a groin injury.
Virgil van Dijk, Jordan Henderson and Joel Matip will all be returning to the side as well after lengthy layoffs.
