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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Daniel Moxon

Liverpool outline Denis Zakaria transfer stance as Naby Keita's AFCON could be over

Here is your Liverpool morning digest for Thursday, January 20.

Liverpool's transfer stance on Denis Zakaria

Despite persistent rumours linking the Reds with a move for Denis Zakaria, it doesn't appear as though they carry any weight.

The midfielder has been a stand-out performer for Borussia Monchengladbach over the course of several seasons spent at the club.

But his time with Die Fohlen is coming to an end, with his current contract expiring in the summer.

That means, of course, the Swiss international is being linked with moves to a whole host of clubs, including the likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

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Liverpool have also been caught up in the saga, with some recent reports suggesting the Reds are 'serious' about their interest in Zakaria.

Gladbach want to sell this month if they can so they can at least get some sort of transfer fee instead of losing him for nothing in the summer, and some outlets are suggesting Liverpool might pounce on that situation.

But Anfield insiders have told the Echo that there is little chance of the club making a move for the midfielder at this moment in time.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Naby Keita might have played last match at AFCON

There's every chance Naby Keita's Africa Cup of Nations campaign might have already come to an end.

His Guinea team did just enough to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament, finishing second behind Groub B winners Senegal and edging out Malawi with a better head-to-head record.

Keita was the real driving force behind his team's group stage success, putting in back-to-back man-of-the-match displays in the victory over Malawi and the draw against Sadio Mane's Senegal.

The Guinea captain even scored a stunning screamer against Zimbabwe, though it wasn't enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat.

Guinea face The Gambia in the round of 16 in what looks to be a winnable tie – but Keita's team-mates will have to claim victory without him if they want to go deeper into the tournament.

Fortunately for Liverpool fans, the midfielder's absence is not injury enforced, but a result of disciplinary rules.

Keita picked up yellow cards in the matches against Senegal and Zimbabwe, meaning he must serve a one-game ban instead of taking to the pitch with his countrymen.

If Guinea can get the win without him, Keita looks set to return for their quarter-final tie, which would be against either tournament hosts Cameroon or Covid-hit Comoros.

If The Gambia are the ones to prevail, Keita would be on a plane back to Liverpool in a boost to Jurgen Klopp's midfield options.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

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