'Unexpected' Liverpool claim issued by pundit after journalist's Naby Keita talks update
Paul Robinson has stressed the importance of Liverpool tying Naby Keita down to a new long-term contract.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Spurs and England goalkeeper said the 27-year-old performed "better than people expected" last season.
Keita will enter the final 12 months of his contract at Anfield next week.
Football Insider revealed on 11 June that the Reds want to keep the Guinea international and have opened talks over a new deal.
Speaking on his Here We Go podcast (20 June), Fabrizio Romano claimed one of Liverpool’s priorities this summer is to renew Keita's contract.
When asked by Football Insider for his assessment of the centre-midfielder's future, Robinson said: "It is important that they keep Keita.
"He had a lot of game time last season and he played well. I was really impressed by him.
"When you consider that [Sadio] Mane has gone and that [Mohamed] Salah and [Roberto] Firmino only have a year left it is important that you keep Keita. You don't want too much upheaval in the squad.
"Keita played a lot better than people expected him to this year. I think he was excellent at times.
"It is very important that they keep him in my eyes. He has been much improved.
"You have to remember that they lost [Georginio] Wijnaldum last year and did not replace him. They can't really afford to lose another."