OPINION
Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita was no doubt dubbed as a player to watch after his instant impact against West Ham in August.
Many fans were no doubt left in awe of his ability, and they were certainly expecting big things from the 24-year-old for the remainder of the season. However, it has not quite worked out that way, has it?
Injury has no doubt ravaged what could have been a defining season for the summer signing, and the fact that he has not been able to reach his previous heights upon his return has definitely left some of the supporters a little underwhelmed.
Where was the player they had seen at the start of the campaign? The player that they were encouraged to get excited about? Nowhere, by the looks of it.
Graeme Souness claimed in his Sunday Times column that Keita has not offered anything to the team creatively that they did not have before. In a sense, he is right – especially with the midfield talent that Jurgen Klopp already has at his disposal.
This is why it makes complete sense for the Reds to loan Keita out this summer. He is further down the pecking order than he would like to be and the possibility of him getting much game time next season is very slim by the looks of it. If he goes out on loan, then perhaps he will gain the Premier League experience he needs to be playing for a top team like the Reds.
Perhaps it was too much, too soon for the Guinea international? It does seem like that right now. One thing is for sure though, loaning the struggling player out will prevent his Liverpool career being in tatters.
It may have been a laughable prospect at the start of the season, but it makes complete sense now, especially after Team Talk claimed that Klopp was ready to cash in on him.
