Naby Keita looks set to join Ferencvaros from Bundesliga club Werder Bremen
Sport
Comment
Naby Keita on the bench for Werder Bremen
Naby Keita on the bench for Werder Bremen(Image: 2024 Max Ellerbrake - firo sportphoto)
Naby Keita has been offered a lifeline by Ferencvaros following a disastrous spell with Werder Bremen.
The midfielder arrived at Bremen on a free transfer from Liverpool in the summer of 2023. He had also underwhelmed on Merseyside, with injuries restricting him to just 49 Premier League starts in five years.
The Reds had paid RB Leipzig £52million to sign him in the summer of 2018 and he returned to the Bundesliga in the hopes of kickstarting his career. Those hopes were quickly dashed though as he failed to stake a regular place in the Bremen team.
READ MORE: Sir Alex Ferguson snapped at Man United star after Liverpool tackle - we were ready to kill himREAD MORE: 'We have to survive' - Pep Guardiola makes major Man City claim after missed Liverpool chance
Last year he made just five Bundesliga appearances, only one of which was a start. This season has been even worse, with Keita out of the first-team picture altogether after coach Ole Herner urged him to find a new club.
Herner said recently: "I believe that it's best for both sides to simply look ahead and into the future, to see what good solutions Naby can find for himself and what solutions we can find without him."
It appears Keita may well have found his solution, just in time for the January transfer window. Accoding to Bild, Keita will be sent out on loan to Hungarian champions Ferencvaros next month. On Sunday he was pictured in the stands watching a game.
The deal could include a purchase option and may be finalised in the next 'two to three days'. Keita has been sent to train with the youth team this season, having been suspended by the club last year for refusing to travel to an away game.
He had returned home when he found out he wasn't in the starting XI for a game against Bayer Leverkusen. Keita was handed a substantial fine, with Bremen sporting director Clemens Fritz insisting the club would not tolerate his behaviour.
"We won't tolerate Naby's behaviour," said Fritz. He let his team down in a time of difficulty surrounding our recent run of form and squad availability and put his own interests above those of the team.
"We can't allow that. At this stage of the season, we need full focus on the remaining games and a team who stick together. That's why we've been left with no alternative."
Keita has not hidden his frustrations at his lack of playing time. He told The Guardian in October: "I had the option of extending my stay at Liverpool but, after five years, I wanted to get more playing time elsewhere."
"I was also convinced by what the coach and management at Bremen had to say. Unfortunately, things haven't gone according to plan. A lot of people say to me: 'Naby, you're injured, why don't you want to play for Bremen?' I say: 'No, I'm fine'."
"Since I came back from the Africa Cup of Nations [in February], all I've wanted to do is play for the fans and the club. But it's not up to me. The club decided to put me with the under-23s. I'm training with them and helping the youngsters while I wait for the wheels to turn."