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Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham 'weighing up moves for Liverpool's Naby Keita'

Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham 'weighing up moves for Naby Keita'
© Reuters
Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly weigh up moves for Liverpool's Naby Keita, whose contract at Anfield expires in the summer.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are all keeping a close eye on Naby Keita's contract situation at Liverpool, according to a report.

The Guinea international - who has endured another injury-hit season with the Anfield powerhouses - is due to become a free agent at the end of the campaign.

Keita can therefore open talks with foreign clubs in January as things stand, although Liverpool are understood to want to agree a new deal with the 27-year-old.

Jurgen Klopp supposedly believes that Keita is an indispensable member of his squad when fully fit, but the midfielder wants assurances over his playing time before putting pen to paper.

Furthermore, it has been claimed that Keita will not discuss a new contract with Liverpool before January, and a host of clubs are said to be monitoring developments.

Naby Keita goes down injured for Liverpool against Brighton & Hove Albion in October 2021© Reuters

According to 90Min, all of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham remain attentive to Keita's contract situation and are weighing up moves for the ex-RB Leipzig man as a free agent next year.

The report claims that Keita's agents pushed Liverpool to offer the lynchpin fresh terms before the summer transfer window shut, and they were left frustrated when a deal did not materialise.

Now, the two parties are said to have been left "deadlocked" in the situation, and Keita's camp are aware that the 27-year-old will not be short of offers if he chooses to leave.

Chelsea in particular could undergo a significant midfield reshuffle next summer, as Jorginho and N'Golo Kante are both due to depart upon the expiration of their contracts.

Jorginho's agent has said that talks with Chelsea over a new deal are a priority, but Graham Potter does not believe that Kante's contract situation is vitally important as he recovers from thigh surgery.

N'Golo Kante in action for Chelsea on August 14, 2022© Reuters

Meanwhile, Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny - who will also miss a good chunk of the season with a hamstring injury - looks set to leave the club when his deal expires in 2023.

Albert Sambi Lokonga's future has been called into question too, and the Belgian's exit could lead the Gunners to consider a low-risk free transfer for Keita.

Despite his dissatisfactory injury record, Keita is also thought to have attracted the attention of Borussia Dortmund, as well as garnering interest from clubs in Spain, France and Italy.

The Guinea international has 11 goals and seven assists to boast from 117 games for Liverpool since 2018, but his only appearance this season has come in the Community Shield win over Manchester City.

Hamstring injuries have forced Keita into the treatment room during the early stages of the new term, although he did make the bench for August's draw with Crystal Palace.

However, the injury-hit midfielder is expected to be back in full training this week, but Wednesday's Champions League game with Ajax will likely be too soon for him to make a comeback.

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal281510352242855
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest28156745331251
4Chelsea28147753361749
5Manchester CityMan City28145953381547
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28121064640646
8Aston Villa2912984145-445
9Bournemouth28128847341344
10Fulham2811984138342
11Crystal Palace2810993633339
12Brentford28115124844438
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs281041455411434
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2897123440-634
15Everton2871293135-433
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2896133248-1633
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2865173857-1923
18Ipswich TownIpswich2838172658-3217
19Leicester CityLeicester2845192562-3717
20Southampton2823232068-489


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