According to Anfield Central, Barcelona have reportedly contacted Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita as they see him as a potential summer signing. The Guinean midfielder was signed by Liverpool in the year 2018, arriving with the likes of Fabinho, during the famous 98 point season of 2018/19. The Catalans are reportedly interesting in landing the attacking midfielder in the summer, possibly with the idea of strengthening an already promising midfield filled with youth.
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Naby Keita’s journey at Anfield has not been particularly great particularly when one considers the hefty fee of sixty million pounds the Premier League side had to pay. The 26-year-old arrived with a lot of expectations in strengthening Liverpool’s creative qualities in midfield. The Reds mostly have defensive or box-to-box oriented midfielders in their squad with their most creative midfielder in recent times being Thiago Alcantara who arrived at the beginning of the 2020/21 season.
The former RB Leipzig midfielder, however, failed to deliver for the club having succumbed to multiple injuries during his time at Anfield. Many new premier league players like James Rodriguez and Timo Werner have all mentioned that the English league is more physical. Hence it can be one of the causes Keita has failed to deliver for the Reds and why a move to La Liga could be more attractive.
Barcelona does not need the Liverpool midfielder
Barcelona, however, have multiple creative midfielders at their disposal in the likes of Pedri, Riqui Puig, Frenkie de Jong, Ilaix Moriba, Sergio Busquets, Philippe Coutinho, and Miralem Pjanic. Having said that, both Pjanic and Coutinho do not look to be in Ronald Koeman’s plans. Coutinho did show some positive signs at the Nou Camp ever since his return from Bayern Munich, but his latest long-term injury has probably ended his days with the Catalans. Meanwhile, former Juventus midfielder, Miralem Pjanic, is likely to be one of the worst arrivals under former president Josep Maria Bartomeu, as the current coach Koeman has no intentions of playing him.
While there is no guarantee, Keita’s potential move to the Nou Camp is being rumored. Having said that, it is likely to be a massive doubt as Laporta has already revealed his intentions of bringing a defender and striker first. The former Bundesliga midfielder, however, does have the chance to revive his reputation under Ronald Koeman.
Should Barca consider signing the Liverpool midfielder?