Fabrizio Romano has revealed that he expects Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita to leave Liverpool for free at the end of the season.
The midfielders are out of contract in the summer and new terms are unlikely to be agreed according to the Italian transfer specialist.
Strengthening the midfield is an area that Jurgen Klopp has singled out as a “priority” over the next two transfer windows with Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham the name on the lips of most Liverpool fans.
Romano told his YouTube channel (via Sport Bible): “They want to sign midfielders, it could be more than one because I’m told Oxlade-Chamberlain is leaving as a free agent at the end of the season. There is also a very good chance that Naby Keita will leave as a free agent for what I have been told is a serious possibility.”
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Our No. 15 has gained playing time in recent weeks after returning from a hamstring injury suffered during preseason, while the situation surrounding Keita seems very unclear.
He hasn’t played for the club since our loss to Manchester City in the Community Shield in July, and illness and injury were the reasons for his absence.
Since his big-money move from RB Leipzig in 2018, the Guinean international has not lived up to expectations, missing a large number of games through injury.
We spent £48m on the 27-year-old so it would be a huge blow to lose him on a free transfer, but it now looks likely.
However, the departure of our No. 8 would free up some finances on the wage bill, which could come in handy if we try to lure Bellingham to Anfield.
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