Three Ideal Partners For Naby Keita Who Liverpool Can Target
Liverpool’s summer transfer plans ahead of the next season are likely to involve largely around strengthening their central midfield options along with the defence. The Reds have already taken a step in that direction, signing Naby Keita from RB Leipzig by agreeing to pay his £48m release clause.
However, Emre Can’s future is still up in the air, as his contract with the club runs out at the end of the season, and James Milner isn’t getting any younger. Add to that, an indifferent 2017/18 campaign for Dutch international Georginio Wijnaldum suggests that manager Jurgen Klopp must dip into the transfer market for another central midfielder.
Here are three players who could be ideal partners for Keita in the midfield.
Adrien Rabiot (Paris Saint-Germain)
The PSG midfielder has admitted in the past that he was a Liverpool fan growing up and given the competition for a spot in the starting XI at the Parc des Princes, he would be better off considering a move to the Premier League.
The 23-year-old has featured in 45 games across all competitions for Les Parisiens this season, scoring 5 goals and registering 7 assists in the process. Young, possessing good defensive nous, coupled with the ability to pick passes accurately from deep in the midfield, Rabiot could prove to be a quality addition to the Reds’ roster in the summer.
Piotr Zielinski (Napoli)
A player who has been on Liverpool’s radar in the past, the Merseysiders came close to signing him in the summer of 2016 and should look to rekindle their interest in the Napoli midfielder.
The 23-year-old Zielinski has made 42 appearances for the Partenopei this term, scoring 7 goals and chalking up 3 assists in the process. An energetic presence in the middle of the park, the Poland international provides the forward drive with his dribbling abilities. He is technically gifted and adds a goal threat from the middle with his long-range shots. An option definitely worth looking at for the Reds.
Jean Michael Seri (OGC Nice)
Another player who has previously been linked with a move to Liverpool, Ivory Coast international Jean Michael Seri could prove to the be the ideal partner for Keita in the middle.
The 26-year-old has been sensational over the past two years for French outfit OGC Nice and his exploits have seen him attract interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe including the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City.
Seri, this season, has netted a solitary goal along with 8 more assists in 38 appearances across all competitions. A strong box-to-box operator, the Nice midfielder will definitely improve the quality of this Liverpool squad.