Naby Keita deserves at least one more season

Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita deserves at least one more season with the club after a difficult couple of years.

Bild have reported that RB Leipzig are back in for their former player this summer, but might not be able to clinch the deal for a number of reasons.

According to the German newspaper, the midfielder would command a wage the Bundesliga outfit can’t afford and would be too old to fit in with their transfer policy.

Leipzig don’t want to sign anyone over the age of 24, and the 25-year-old Naby Keita is one year past that cut off age. But it shouldn’t matter anyway, because the Guinea international shouldn’t be going anywhere.

After spending big money on the star, Jurgen Klopp will be reluctant to cut ties with the midfielder anyway – and they especially wouldn’t want to do so at a loss.

Regardless of that, Liverpool have a very functional midfield but Keita is one of the few who can do something different and unlock doors the rest of the squad can’t even see. Alongside Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita brings a rare dynamism to the game and can do special things.

This should be nurtured, not thrown away.

His situation should also merit patience. Keita has had terrible luck with injuries, and while this shouldn’t be used to explain away all his problems, it can be useful in our assessment of his first 24 months with Liverpool.

Those knocks have robbed the midfielder of regular game time and rhythm, and while the man must take ownership of his poor performances when given a chance, it can be used in mitigation.

There’ll be some player turnover this summer, with Adam Lallana likely to lead the way when his contract expires. Some might be tempted to call for Keita to be one of those who leave, but the player deserves at least another season to prove his worth.