Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita is in talks over a move to Galatasaray, according to a report.
The Guinea international is running down the final few months of his Anfield contract and will be free to leave the Reds at the end of the season if his situation does not change.
Despite being plagued by numerous injury problems during his time at Liverpool, Keita is supposedly still valued as a key member of the squad by Jurgen Klopp when fit.
As a result, Liverpool were believed to be hoping to agree a new contract with the 27-year-old, but they have since performed a U-turn on their stance and have pulled out of negotiations.
Keita is therefore poised to walk out of the door for nothing this summer, five years after Liverpool forked out €60m (£53.9m) to sign him from RB Leipzig in 2018.
© Reuters
A move to Italy has been mooted for Keita, who is able to enter pre-contract talks with foreign clubs, and Liverpool were said to have been considering the prospect of a part-exchange deal with Inter Milan for Marcelo Brozovic.
Now, Turkish publication A Spor claims that Super Lig giants Galatasaray have started talks over a move for the Guinea midfielder, with the transfer window in Turkey open until February 8.
The report adds that negotiations are still in their early stages, but Keita's representatives are in direct contact with Galatasaray, whose move for the lynchpin may have to wait until the end of the season.
Keita is one of four Liverpool midfielders who could be saying their goodbyes at the end of the season, with Arthur, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also in line to leave.
Arthur has played just 13 minutes during his loan spell from Juventus due to a serious thigh injury, and Liverpool are not expected to take up their offer to make his stay permanent.
© Reuters
Meanwhile, Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain are both out of contract at the end of the season, and the latter is expected to leave on a free transfer amid his own struggles for fitness and game time.
However, Klopp has hinted that he wants Milner - who turned 37 last month - to sign a new deal at Anfield, where supporters are expecting at least one big-money midfield signing during the summer.
The Reds have decided against splashing the cash on their engine room in the last two windows as they prioritise a summer swoop for Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham, while Matheus Nunes, Ruben Neves and Moises Caicedo have also been linked with moves to Anfield.
Keita has recorded 11 goals and seven assists from 126 matches in a Liverpool shirt, but he has been restricted to just 10 appearances in all tournaments this season due to injury.
However, the 27-year-old could make his fourth consecutive start for Klopp's team when they tackle Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux in Saturday's Premier League clash.
