Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan are both interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita on a free transfer this summer, according to reports.
The 28-year-old’s current deal at Anfield is set to expire at the end of the season and it is believed that the Reds have decided against offering him a new contract.
As a result, Keita has attracted the interest of several European clubs, with Dortmund and Inter now believed to be leading the race.
This is according to Football Insider, who claim that both sides are keen on snapping up a bargain deal for the Guinean in the coming months.
It’s no secret that Jurgen Klopp is looking to revamp his midfield ahead of next season, with Keita, along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both set to depart, as previously reported by TEAMtlk.
Liverpool are also firmly in the race for Dortmund star player Jude Bellingham, who could cost in excess of £130m this summer.
However, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Manchester City are also competing for his signature, so there could be a bidding war for the 19-year-old’s services.
Dortmund will have to replace Bellingham if he does leave, so it’s no surprise to see them interested in Keita.
Klopp left frustrated by injury-prone Keita
Since moving to Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2018, Keita has featured 129 times for the Merseyside club overall, scoring 11 goals and making seven assists in the process.
The midfielder has played a key role in the Red’s recent success, too, helping them to lift one Premier League title, a Champions League, an FA Cup and a League Cup.
However, this season Keita has only made 12 appearances across all competitions, with a hamstring injury resulting in him missing large parts of the season.
Indeed, it is believed that Klopp has been left frustrated by the Guinean’s lack of availability, hence the decision not to extend his time at Anfield.
In fact, during his five-year stint on Merseyside, Keita has missed a total of 84 games through injury.
As mentioned, Dortmund will have to find a new centre midfielder should Bellingham leave this season, as expected.
On the other hand, Inter Milan manager Simone Inghazi also wants to improve his midfield this summer, so Keita could be an excellent signing for them too.
Keita certainly has experience playing at the very highest level and if he can recover from his injury problems, there is no reason why he can’t continue doing so for years to come.
With that in mind, it will be interesting to see where the midfielder ends up next season. With him available on a free transfer, he could prove to be one of the bargains of the summer.
Liverpool move under serious threat as Arsenal swoop in for midfielder Mikel Arteta ‘appreciates’
Liverpool might struggle to capture a Serie A midfielder after Arsenal reportedly got in the mix for him, with Mikel Arteta a big fan.
Liverpool desperately need to add to their midfield ranks in the summer. Manager Jurgen Klopp has had to deal with several injuries in the position this season, while the likes of Jordan Henderson, Thiago and James Milner are over the age of 30.
This need for a midfield revamp means Liverpool are expected to bid for several players in the next transfer window.
But Arsenal are also looking to improve their midfield. Arteta usually selects a midfield trio of Martin Odegaard, Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey. Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny are also in his squad.
The Gunners know that extra quality needs to be added to the position if they are to continue challenging for Premier League titles and eventually battle Europe’s elite in the Champions League. Plus, Arteta also has a few older options in the midfield, so he could do with future-proofing the area.
One player Liverpool are eyeing up is AC Milan’s Ismael Bennacer. On March 10, Italian outlet Inter Live suggested Liverpool could move for Bennacer alongside Inter Milan playmaker Nicolo Barella.
But Liverpool will not find it easy to snare Bennacer, as Arsenal have been tipped to land him. Calciomercatoweb claim Arsenal have identified the 25-year-old as a potentially great summer addition.
Arteta ‘appreciates’ his quality and believes he would be able to challenge Partey and Xhaka for a starting spot alongside captain Odegaard.
Bennacer could join Arsenal in exchange deal
Arsenal are ready to submit an offer for Bennacer. However, it will not just involve money.
The Gunners are planning to offer striker Folarin Balogun as part of a player-plus-cash deal for Bennacer.
This is because Milan have struck up an interest in Balogun amid his fantastic form on loan at Stade Reims. The England U21 international has bagged 17 goals in 28 appearances this term.
Arsenal are planning to capitalise on Milan’s interest in Balogun by offering him and some money for Bennacer. However, the report does not reveal how much will be offered to Milan in addition to the striker.
Arsenal may have to spend a big amount to get Milan to sign off on Bennacer’s exit. He is a regular in the first team, having played 31 times across all competitions so far.
Another factor Arsenal must consider is Bennacer’s contract at the San Siro. It runs until June 2027, which means Milan are under no pressure to sell this year.
It will be interesting to see how the chase for the Algerian’s signature plays out. Liverpool need a midfielder more than Arsenal, so Klopp could ask his club to outbid their Premier League rivals.