KEY POINTS

  • Naby Keita has made just 76 appearances for Liverpool across three seasons
  • He has missed 23 games already due to injuries in 2020-21
  • He has not scored or assisted a goal this term

Liverpool FC midfielder Naby Keita is reportedly being chased by Crystal Palace and Leicester City ahead of the 2021 summer window.

While the two Premier League sides have enquired about Keita’s availability, La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid are also believed to be interested in the Guinean player, according to Guinea-based sports magazine Football Factory.

Provided the Anfield side receives a suitable bid, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is ready to give a go-ahead for the departure of Keita, reported Spanish media outlet Fichajes.net. Keita was Klopp’s third-most expensive purchase when the Guinean captain was signed by Liverpool from RB Leipzig at a $71 million transfer four summers ago.

Across three seasons, Keita has made just 76 competitive appearances for Liverpool and his stay at Anfield has majorly been hit with regular injuries. A major part of a player’s value certainly includes staying fit and Keita has not done that and hence has not lived up to the huge amount the club paid for him in the summer of 2017.

According to Transfermarkt, Keita has missed 97 days of the ongoing campaign, with four separate absences, with a tally of 23 games on the sidelines. Out of Liverpool’s 36 games in the Premier League, Keita has featured in only 10 of them, starting only seven without scoring or assisting a goal.

Due to his major lack of game time, Keita’s market value is gradually going down. While Liverpool bought him at $71 million in 2017, Keita’s current value has fallen to $48 million, according to Transfermarkt.

Aston Villa's Jack Grealish stops Liverpool's Naby Keita in his tracks
Aston Villa's Jack Grealish stops Liverpool's Naby Keita in his tracks POOL / CARL RECINE

Earlier in the season, when Klopp was asked about Keita’s long-term future at Anfield, the German boss gave a positive reply.

"Naby trains really well at the moment, I have to say. He trains really well, like a lot of other players, and looks really good in training. But this year now we need stability. We will make changes from time to time definitely, but it’s not like we pick now seven, eight, nine players to change and say, ‘Maybe we can win it like this.’ The long-term future of Naby Keita, from my point of view, is here, yes," Klopp told Liverpool’s official website.

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