Fabrizio Romano reveals the Liverpool star Barcelona want

Jacque Talbot

• 27 Feb 2023 19:22 GMT
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita could be a summer transfer target for Barcelona.

The Guinean international, who is out of contract at the end of the 2022/23 season, looks unlikely to extend his time at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp is an admirer of the player but even still, Keita has struggled for both form and fitness in five seasons, where he has just featured in 84 Premier League games in that time.

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Liverpool are hopeful of a rebuild and that means offloading some of the players among their ranks who are no longer fit for purpose.

And, indeed, Romano has claimed that a deal is being looked at by Barcelona ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Italian reporter said in his CaughtOffside column. “Barca are linked to all the possible free agents, but at the moment, nothing is concrete or advanced between Keita or any other club.

“He will decide in the next few months. Barca are exploring the free agents market, but nothing is “serious” yet.”

Barcelona’s ongoing financial issues mean they will have to look at free agents in the summer window instead of spending big bucks.

RB Leipzig in the mix

It comes after Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claimed last month that Keita’s time at Liverpool looked all but over with and that a return to RB Leipzig may be possible.

Plettenberg tweeted: "[Keita] is on verge to leave LFC as a free agent in the summer. Contract extension unlikely at this stage.

"Many clubs are interested to sign him. But he won't join Galatasaray. His return to Germany is not excluded."

Bild in Germany reported that Liverpool rejected an offer from Leipzig for the midfielder on transfer deadline day, with Klopp personally ensuring that he stayed on board.