Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita was not a bad signing for the Reds but has not worked out for them, claims journalist Dean Jones.

The 27-year-old has had a lot of injury problems at Anfield, and Jones thinks Jurgen Klopp is now open to letting him go.

GiveMeSport The Verdict

Liverpool news - Naby Keita

Keita has been included in Liverpool's 33-man squad for their training camp in Dubai. There, he is expected to continue his rehabilitation from injury.

"The Reds departed for the United Arab Emirates on Monday afternoon, where they will begin preparations for the second half of the season," Liverpool's official club website announced earlier this week.

"The travelling party includes Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Naby Keita and Arthur Melo, who will continue to work on their individual rehabilitation programmes from their respective injuries."

Keita has been sidelined for most of the season so far because of a hamstring problem.

What has Dean Jones said about Naby Keita and Liverpool?

Despite Keita's struggle to remain fit, Jones has refused to label him as a bad signing. However, he does think his time at Anfield is coming to an end.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer reporter said: "We should remember that Keita was of a very high level when they signed him, and it unfortunately just hasn't quite gone as well as it could have.

"That signing wasn't a bad signing; it just hasn't quite worked out. So, of course, at this point, you're willing to move on."

Read more: January Transfer Window 2023: When Does It Begin, Rumours and Everything You Need To Know

Naby Keita's salary

According to Salary Sport, Keita is on a £130,000-a-week contract at Anfield.

It is a lot of money for a player who has missed so many games since joining Liverpool. As shown on Transfermarkt, the Guinean has been unavailable for over 80 matches because of injury.

When you consider that, it really would not be a shock if the Merseyside club allowed him to leave at the end of the season when his contract expires.

That being said, as Jones pointed out, Keita was never a bad signing on paper. He has a lot of quality and has shown that when he has been able to play.

As per FBref, the former RB Leipzig man has ranked in the 85th percentile for dribbles completed, the 94th for tackles and the 99th for blocks among his positional peers over the last year. Based on that, he is quite a well-rounded midfielder, but one Liverpool have just not been able to call upon often enough.

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