- 20 hours ago
Five players who could leave Liverpool this summer
It’s all change at Liverpool this summer, with Jurgen Klopp leaving his post as manager and a host of backroom staff departing alongside the German.
Sporting director Jorg Schmadtke left the club at the end of the January transfer window with Richard Hughes coming in to replace him in June.
He will have an extensive in-tray come summer with a number of contract issues to sort and a squad to restock.
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There are, however, likely to be some high-profile departures on the playing side too.
Here we take a look at FIVE Liverpool players who could leave this summer.
Mohamed Salah
Let’s start with the big one. Liverpool fended off a mammoth bid from Al-Ittihad last summer with the Saudi Pro League side offering €150 million for Mohamed Salah.
It’s no secret that the SPL want to make the Egyptian striker the face of their emerging competition and clubs like Al-Ittihad will spare no expense to get the job done.
Salah is out of contract in the summer of 2025 and so this will be Liverpool’s last big chance to cash in on their 210-goal hero.
The Champions League and Premier League winner is the Reds’ top earner and, coming up to his 32nd birthday, there is no guarantee that he will stay as consistent as he has been since moving to Anfield in 2017.
Indeed, time appears to have caught up with Salah in recent months, following his hamstring injury, and the downturn in his form coincided with Liverpool falling away in the title race and going out of the FA Cup and Europa League.
A huge decision looms for Liverpool.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Now this would be a nightmare scenario for Liverpool fans - losing Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold in one summer.
Like Salah, Alexander-Arnold is out of contract next summer and there has only been radio silence from Anfield regarding a new deal. It could be stick-or-twist time for the new sporting director.
The 25-year-old is among Liverpool’s top earners and is approaching a vital crossroads in his career.
Does he want to be a midfielder full time? What will a new manager ask of him? How close to the truth are those reports of Real Madrid’s interest?
All of those questions will be answered in the coming months.
Trent has conquered England, Europe and the world with his boyhood club and the time might be right to move on for him and - with only one more big opportunity to cash in - for the club too.
His best friend in football is Jude Bellingham and he recently described Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane as his dream dinner party guests.
Does the Bernabeu beckon?
Thiago Alcantara
All signs point to Thiago Alcantara leaving the club this summer.
His contract expires at the end of a season in which he has been ravaged by injury.
Flamengo and Al-Ettifaq - Steven Gerrard’s side - are reportedly keen on the 33-year-old, whose four-year spell at Anfield appears at an end.
The 46-cap Spain international has thrilled fans with his touch, poise and class but he hasn’t spent enough time on the field since joining from Bayern Munich for £20 million back in 2020.
Thiago has mustered only 98 appearances in total for Liverpool across four seasons, missing the entire campaign this term apart from a five-minute cameo against Arsenal in February.
Hip and muscle problems have ravaged his season and it must be said that Liverpool have not got value for money for a player who - on his day - was among the world’s best.
Caoimhin Kelleher
Caoimhin Kelleher has benefitted from the injury sustained by Alisson Becker this season, playing in more matches this term than any other since stepping up to the first-team squad back in 2018-19.
The goalkeeper has managed 26 appearances, including 10 in the Premier League, and was between the sticks for the Carabao Cup win against Chelsea at Wembley in February.
However, at 25, the Irishman needs to become a No.1 fast and he’s got no chance of that happening so long as Alisson is around.
Liverpool knocked back interest from Nottingham Forest last summer and the player has admitted to doubts over his future.
With new Liverpool links to Filip Jorgensen of Villarreal, it could be time for Kelleher to say goodbye.
He is contracted at Anfield until 2026 and the Reds will no doubt seek top dollar for one of the best substitute goalkeepers in the Premier League.
Joel Matip
Having suffered a horror injury during the final season of his contract, Joel Matip has been desperately unfortunate.
Despite Jurgen Klopp’s pleas for the club to offer the soon-to-be 33-year-old a contract, it’s believed that the new Anfield hierarchy are ready to let the Cameroon international’s terms elapse.
He’s been a cult hero on Merseyside, playing his part in all of their major honours under Klopp, but time is running out for Matip.