Liverpool set to lose £50m+ on Naby Keita after source’s January reveal – pundit
Liverpool are unlikely to receive any fee for Naby Keita as no one will want to sign him in January.
That’s according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the midfielder’s future.
Football Insider revealed on Friday (25 November) that Liverpool have pulled the plug on new contract talks with Keita and he is now free to join a new club.
An Anfield source has since updated to Football Insider that the 27-year-old is likely to go at the end of the season and will only go in January if a replacement signing is secured.
The midfielder is set to be out of contract next summer and will be able to speak to foreign sides over a pre-contract agreement in January.
McManus insists the midfielder has been a “flop”.
“He has never been a regular, he was a big-money signing, people forget,” McManus told Football Insider‘s Ben Wild.
“I’m just looking here, it was nearly £50million. That’s a big outlay from Liverpool. He has not been a success.
“He looked very, very good at Leipzig but he has struggled to get into that Liverpool midfield, a midfield that has taken a lot of criticism this season.
“There are talented players in there but there aren’t any legs. He has been a bit of a flop, to be honest. Liverpool will hope to recoup some of that outlay but he’s, what, 27?
“He might still have a big move in him but Liverpool aren’t really in control of that with him out of contract soon. It’s such a waste.
“I don’t think anyone will want him in January.”
In other news, pundit suggests new Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain move after Southampton reveal.