Liverpool remain hopeful of securing Naby Keita to a new contract.

The Liverpool Echo says Anfield sources have privately pointed to the lack of genuine updates over Mohamed Salah's future earlier this year as proof of that and the word is that Liverpool are still looking to tie down Keita for the long haul.

Links back to Germany, where he established a reputation as one of the Bundesliga's best midfielders during his time with Leipzig, surfaced before the close of the transfer window, with Borussia Dortmund tentatively linked.

Liverpool enjoy a good relationship with Keita's representative, Bjorn Bezemer, though, and held talks with the agent in Spain last month.

The hope, still, is the player will remain contracted to the Reds beyond the summer of 2023.