Liverpool are planning to offer midfielder Naby Keita a new contract before his current deal expires, according to a report which has emerged.

The Lowdown: Keita's contract running down

The 27-year-old has proven to be a hit-and-miss figure in a Reds shirt since joining from RB Leipzig in 2018, splitting opinion within the fanbase.

Keita's current Liverpool deal expires at the end of this season, which means he could leave on a free transfer next summer if he hasn't extended his stay at Anfield by then.

While some may naturally expect the Guinean to leave, recent reports suggests quite the opposite.

The Latest: New deal incoming?

According to The Mirror, Liverpool are 'keen' on handing Keita a new deal at the club, even though he has 'failed to live up to' expectations to this point.

There is no mention of how long the contract would be for, but it certainly looks as though Jurgen Klopp would rather keep hold of the 27-year-old.

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The Verdict: Too injury-prone

If true, this is a strange stance from the club at this point, with Keita continually showing that he is too injury-prone to be relied upon, making just 72 starts in four-and-a-bit years at Liverpool.

The African is undoubtedly a talented footballer who can be hugely effective when fit - Virgil van Dijk has described him as 'world-class', while he chipped in with a vital goal against Newcastle in the final weeks of last season - but giving big money to a player who is all too often unavailable makes no sense.

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It is a sad state of affairs, considering that Keita came in as such a big prospect in 2018.

However, the move simply hasn't worked out, and unless some changes hugely with his fitness in the coming months, next year feels like the right time to let him leave.