Liverpool midfielder ‘unhappy’ and could force exit before transfer deadline

Jurgen Klopp’s side could be forced back into the transfer market

Updated: July 03, 2023 at 8:27 pm GMT+1

Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita is reportedly unhappy on Merseyside following recent developments and could look to force through a departure from the club before the transfer deadline according to Sky Sports Germany.

Keita has yet to feature for the club this season, missing the opening game with Fulham through illness before being an unused substitute as his teammates stumbled to a second consecutive draw, this time against Crystal Palace.

And with Thiago injured for up to six weeks, and the likes of James Milner and Jordan Henderson not getting any younger, it feels like a make or break season for Keita, whose current deal expires next summer.

Naby Keita during Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Emirates FA Cup Third Round WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Naby Keita of Liverpool battles with Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at Molineux on January 7, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Therein lies the problem, according to Sky. “He [Keita] is unhappy with his current situation in Liverpool”, they report. £There were talks about a contract extension but they have stopped now”, meaning that the Guinea midfielder could leave for free next summer, representing a major loss on the £54m that Liverpool shelled out to bring him to Anfield in 2018.

Would Liverpool dip into the market?

Much has been made of Liverpool’s refusal to buy a midfielder this summer, instead handing a one-year contract to James Milner and affording Harvey Elliot a greater role in the squad.

“The transfer market only makes sense if you can bring in the right player. The right player, not a player”, Liverpool boss Klopp told the media when quizzed.

“If there is the right player then it would make sense but we always actually would have done that from the first day of the transfer window. From the first day of the pre-season, we would have done it.”

However, he conceded, if things change then they may be forced into action. “If nobody wants to leave – and no player came to me with that request yet and I don’t expect it [adding a midfielder] really, to be honest”.

It is widely rumoured that they are lining up a move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham next summer, but they may have to find a shorter-term solution in the middle of the pitch if Keita does indeed depart.