Barcelona keeping tabs on Liverpool midfielder to sign as a free agent

There is a long list of player Barcelona are monitoring as part of their transfer plan for the summer window. 

While the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, N’Golo Kante, Marco Asensio and Youri Tielemans are the obvious targets given their stature, a new player in Naby Keita has now entered the list according to Diario SPORT.

The only reason for his inclusion is the fact that his current contract with Liverpool expires at the end of the season. However, what seems to amuse one and all is the fact that the former RB Leipzig midfielder does not really fulfil the requirement that Barcelona are looking for at the moment.

To begin with, Sergio Busquets’ departure is more than evident, meaning that the Blaugrana will require a new defensive defender. Now, although Keita has indeed been deployed as one at Liverpool, his natural position is to support his teammates in attack.

Meanwhile, as far as Liverpool are concerned, they have more or less made peace with the fact that Keita will leave at the end of his contract, which is why they are already looking for a new midfielder.

As reported by transfer market specialist Fabrizio Romano, no talks regarding Keita’s contract extension have taken place between the parties and there are high chances that he might as well leave on a free transfer.

And if that’s the case, Barcelona can pounce on the given opportunity in order to replace an exit-bound Franck Kessie if not Busquets. The 26-year-old former Milan midfielder is said to be a target for Inter and if the transfer does materialise, the team would need someone as a cover.

This is where Keita’s services will come in handy. The 28-year-old has indeed struggled with injuries throughout his Liverpool tenure but one cannot overlook the quality he would bring to the midfield.