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Crystal Palace 'join race for Liverpool's Naby Keita'

Crystal Palace 'join race for Liverpool's Naby Keita'
© Reuters
Crystal Palace reportedly join the likes of Barcelona and Inter Milan in the race to sign Liverpool midfielder and soon-to-be free agent Naby Keita this summer.

Crystal Palace are reportedly the latest team to show an interest in signing Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita on a free transfer.

The Guinea international only has two months left to run on his Anfield contract and is expected to depart as a free agent at the end of the current campaign.

While struggling to stay fit throughout his stay on Merseyside, Keita is apparently seen as a key member of Jurgen Klopp's squad when fully fit, and the Reds boss would have given the green light to a renewal.

However, Liverpool have since ended negotiations with the midfielder's camp over a new contract, and he may have played his final game for the Anfield club as he nurses a muscular injury sustained in the March international break.

Despite failing to live up to his £53m price tag during an injury-riddled five years at Anfield, Keita is not expected to be short of offers, as a cut-price move will appeal to several sides across Europe.

Naby Keita in action for Liverpool in May 2022© Reuters

Barcelona, who are once again scouring the free agent market, are believed to have emerged as shock contenders to sign Keita, while Galatasaray and Inter Milan are also in the mix.

Now, the Liverpool Echo claims that Crystal Palace have thrown their hat into the ring and would welcome the chance to sign the former RB Leipzig man on a free transfer.

The Eagles will wave goodbye to Albert Sambi Lokonga upon the end of his loan from Arsenal this summer, but the Belgian has made little impact at Selhurst Park since joining in January anyway.

Jeffrey Schlupp, Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur are all out of contract at the end of the season too, while Will Hughes and Jairo Riedewald's deals only run until 2024.

However, with Barcelona and Galatasaray both likely to offer Keita the chance to continue in the Champions League, Palace - who sit 12th in the Premier League table - would be at an immediate disadvantage in negotiations.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson before the match on April 1, 2023© Reuters

A return to Germany with Borussia Dortmund or former club Leipzig has also been mooted for Keita, who was also on the radar of AC Milan before the Italian champions apparently withdrew their interest due to his wage demands.

Keita boasts a total of 11 goals and seven assists from 129 appearances in a Liverpool jersey, winning the Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, EFL Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield in the process.

However, the 28-year-old has played just 13 times in the current campaign, failing to register a goal or assist and starting just five games in all tournaments, three in the Premier League and two in the FA Cup.

Keita will join Roberto Firmino, Arthur and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in leaving the club this summer, while the future of soon-to-be free agent James Milner is clouded in uncertainty too.

Having ended their interest in signing Dortmund's Jude Bellingham due to his extortionate £130m price tag, Liverpool are now thought to be prioritising a move for Chelsea's Mason Mount, while they are refusing to give up hope of poaching Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich too.

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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