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If Liverpool move for reported target Ruiz, Keita should be a worried man
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz.
, the Reds are one of a number of clubs circling the Spaniard, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich all said to be in the mix.
Ruiz’s stock has been steadily rising since he joined the Italian outfit in 2018 from Real Betis, having shown his creative talents and technical abilities for the Champions League club.
The 23-year-old, who has two caps for the senior national side, was a part of the Spain U21 side that won the European Championships in Italy this summer – Ruiz was named Player of the Tournament for his contributions.
Liverpool are currently well stocked for midfielders making any deal seem unlikely.
But the club did not spend in the summer and could seek to make up for that in one of the next two windows.
One man who could suffer if Liverpool actually went out and got Ruiz, is Naby Keita.
TBR’s view
It’s been a tough start to life at Anfield for the midfield dynamo.
Last term he had trouble imposing himself on games, although he did show flashes of his brilliant technique.
Adapting to English football and injury problems really stopped him from building up any kind of momentum, and the £120,000-a-week Guinea international () is yet to even appear this season.
Were Ruiz to sign for Liverpool, then Keita’s chances of regular first-team football would come under threat.
The silky Spaniard can play as a central midfielder, in the number 10 role or from the left – three positions Keita is best utilised in.