Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Liverpool transfer brutally shut down as ‘cold’ rejection emerges amid concerns over player’s physicality

Crystal Palace's Albert-Mboyo Sambi Lokonga and Liverpool's Naby Keita battle for the ball during the Premier League match at Selhurst Park

Naby Keita hopes of sealing a summer move away from Liverpool have suffered an early blow with one of his main suitors withdrawing from the race.

The Guinean moved to Anfield in summer 2018 in a high-profile move from RB Leipzig. Costing a hefty £52.75m, he arrived on Merseyside with a solid reputation as one of the Bundesliga’s best midfielders.

But Keita’s time at Anfield has not gone to plan and his five-year stay will end with a whimper this summer.

Indeed, the 28-year-old has been blighted by injuries throughout his time at Liverpool, making just 129 appearances in that time. That total includes a measly sum of just 13 appearances – only five of which have been starts.

Earning an estimated £120,000 a week over those five years has also seen Keita pocket over £31m in wages during that time.

By widespread opinion, Keita has proved one of the club’s rare transfer disasters. And seeing the club’s fourth costliest signing of all time walk away for nothing only adds insult to injury.

We revealed back in February that his exit from Anfield would be confirmed shortly – with the player hurting after a big snub from Jurgen Klopp.

However, Keita’s quest to fix himself up with a new club has already suffered an early setback.

He has been linked with a number of possible exit routes with Borussia Dortmund and former club RB Leipzig among those keen.

But the strongest interest has come from Inter Milan, who are long-term admirers of the Guinean star.

His prospects though of a move to the San Siro have been shut down in a pretty savage fashion.

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Inter Milan decide against Naby Keita signing for two reasons

Despite his impending free-transfer status, Inter have decided that Keita represents too much of a transfer gamble.

Per FC Inter News, the Serie A giants claim that observing Keita is one of the ‘most visible’ free agents this summer, they have quickly ruled themselves out the running.

Citing his huge wages and fears over his physical problems that have hampered his time in the Premier League, Inter have told Keita’s representatives that it is a ‘thanks, but no thanks’ from them.

Inter are expected to be active in the market this summer and, with finances tight, Keita could well have ticked a big box for them.

Indeed, a number of top stars are expected to be made available to help balance the books. And with Stefan de Vrij, Denzel Dumfries and Nicolo Barella potentially making way, the Nerazurri are carefully juggling their finances.

Barella himself is being linked with a big-money move to Anfield, with reports claiming a deal in the region of £44.3m (€50m) could be struck.

Were they to sell, Keita could have been a like-for-like replacement. However, their reported snub means the player will have to look elsewhere in a bid to fix himself up with a new club.

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