Barcelona step up their interest in 28-year-old Liverpool star

Barcelona increasingly interested in signing Naby Keita for free this summer

According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Liverpool Echo), La Liga leaders Barcelona want to step up their interest in signing Naby Keita on a free transfer next summer.

Keita is out of contract at Liverpool at the end of this season and it is all but confirmed that he will join Anfield for free.

Of all the good signings Liverpool have made over the past five years, Keita has proven to be a disappointment for them. The combination of his unavailability through injury and inconsistent performances was simply unacceptable.

When the 28-year-old played his last game for Liverpool against Crystal Palace last week, it was symptomatic of his career given the performance and half-time substitution. Injuries happen to all players, some suffer more than others. But there are ways to overcome it. We’ve seen professional athletes try different diets, different trainers, and more to overcome similar issues they have while playing.

So while he’s a good player in his day, it’s probably fair that the club didn’t offer him a new contract. They’d be in for a financial blow if they let him go for free, but he’s good for all parties at this point. We need to invest heavily in the midfield department this summer. Hopefully finish fourth in the league so the Champions League money can help play hardball in the next transfer window.

Keita is a player of divided opinion in the fan base. He was unpredictable that day – a smart dribbler who could cast spells in the final third. If he stays fit and maintains his fitness level, Barcelona could get a good deal. It doesn’t appear that Keita did all of this during his time at Liverpool. He has often suffered similar muscle injuries, which cannot be a coincidence.