Liverpool are reportedly in talks with Juventus over a surprise swap deal involving Naby Keita and Adrien Rabiot.
Injuries have bedevilled Keita during his four years at Anfield, and he finds himself behind Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson in the pecking order.
The Guinea international also has just 12 months left to run on his contract with Jurgen Klopp's side, although Liverpool chiefs supposedly intend to hand him an extension.
As things stand, however, Keita will become a free agent at the end of next season, and Liverpool could therefore try to strike a deal for the 27-year-old with another club this summer rather than lose him for nothing in 2023.
According to Calciomercato, Liverpool and Juve are considering the possibility of sending Rabiot and Keita in opposite directions, as the former is also out of contract in 12 months' time.
© Reuters
Rabiot was a regular in Massimiliano Allegri's XI last term, making 45 appearances in all competitions, including 28 starts and two assists in Serie A.
However, the imminent return of Paul Pogba will add to the competition in the Bianconeri's midfield ranks, and Juve are supposedly ready to do away with Rabiot this summer.
The 27-year-old - who is reported to earn €7m (£6m) per season at Juventus - has spent the last three years in Turin and has won the Serie A title, one Coppa Italia and one Supercoppa Italiana in the process.
Meanwhile, Keita has made 116 appearances in a Liverpool shirt over the past four years, racking up 11 goals and seven assists, but he has missed a further 62 games through various fitness woes.
The 2021-22 season saw the former RB Leipzig man register four goals and three assists in 40 matches domestically and continentally, but he only made 14 starts in the Premier League.
© Reuters
Keita has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup during his time at Anfield, and the Reds forked out £54m to bring him to the club from Germany three years ago.
Liverpool have been tipped to postpone their midfielder search until the summer of 2023 having already secured the signings of Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay this summer.
As well as Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been expected to leave the club in the summer window, but the Reds are now said to be planning to keep the former Arsenal man on the books.
One player that is confirmed to be on his way out is Takumi Minamino, with Monaco manager Philippe Clement recently revealing that a deal had been agreed for the Japanese attacker.
Ben Knapton
