'The next player': Fabrizio Romano says LFC have held 'preliminary negotiations' to seal player agreement for €60M ace

Fabrizio Romano reports that Liverpool are preparing to sign yet another player to a brand new contract with Naby Keita the next in line.

Diogo Jota joined the multitude of players that Michael Edwards and Julian Ward have tied down to new deals in their respective tenures as Liverpool Football Club's sporting director.

While at times in the past, FSG have been criticised for being stingy in the transfer market, they have banished those critiques by replacing Sadio Mane with Darwin Nunez for £85M this summer.

But where FSG have been most effective for Jurgen Klopp has been in their ability to retain key players' services.

The biggest asset for a squad targeting short and long-term success is keeping a core group of world-class players together for as long as possible.

This is only possible by handing out improved contracts to players who have performed well.

Jota signing a new deal until 2027 is evidence of this after he notched 29 goals and assists last season despite playing second fiddle to Sadio Mane in the no.9 role after the New Year.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are working to make sure Naby Keita is the next player to re-commit himself to the club.

The Italian said: “One of the next players to sign a new contract at Liverpool may be Naby Keita.

“There have been preliminary negotiations with his representatives, but they are not yet at the final stage.

“Jota was a priority, after bringing in Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez. Liverpool wanted to ensure him he was still a valued member of the squad.”

While Keita has been very injury prone during his Liverpool career so far, last season was a major improvement as he avoided injury more than he has previously.

The Guinean only missed 8 games last season through two separate injuries but it may have felt like more due to his AFCON obligations in January and February.

However, the midfielder is still a key part of the squad that almost won the quadruple last season.