Agbonlahor: Liverpool backed to pull complete Naby Keita U-turn after twist in talks
Liverpool should not even offer Naby Keita a new contract on reduced terms, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker insisted Liverpool should let the midfielder go.
The 27-year-old is out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season but the club had been keen to tie him down to a new deal.
However, Liverpool wanted the midfielder to accept a pay cut to reflect his dwindling importance to the team.
He has not featured for Jurgen Klopp's side since playing the last five minutes of the 3-1 win over Man City in the Community Shield before the start of the season.
Sources told Football Insider last month (25 November) that they have now pulled out of negotiations altogether and are willing to let him leave for nothing.
Keita can now negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from 1 January.
"I think the U-turn on Naby Keita's contract is fair," Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
"When you have a contract and you haven't performed and been injured a lot, you can't expect the same money, he doesn't deserve it.
"If I was Liverpool I wouldn't even offer him another contract with less money, I'd just let him go."
Keita has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 117 games across all competitions for Liverpool.
The Guinea international was the club's record signing when the Reds agreed a deal with RB Leipzig worth over £50million in the summer of 2017 before he joined 12 months later.