Liverpool will not only lose Jürgen Klopp but as many as five players in the summer, according to reports.
The Reds are finalising the details for Feyenoord manager Arne Slot to takeover from Klopp in the summer. They are also planning a squad clearout so that the incoming manager will have the leeway to bring in the players he wants to work with.
Joel Matip, Adrian, Thiago Alcantara, Nathaniel Phillips and Caoimhin Kelleher are all close to leaving the club with Klopp for several reasons.
Cameroonian defender Matip joined in 2016 and has won everything with Klopp. However, his deal is up this summer and both parties have not had any discussions over his extension. His injury record is also forcing the club to consider not keeping him as they prepare for Slot’s arrival.
Adrian, the veteran goalkeeper has not played any game for Liverpool this season thanks to Alisson Becker and Kelleher. This could see him leave to find regular football for the remaining years of his active career. He is also one of the players with expiring deals which makes it an easy choice for the Reds to part ways with him.
Injuries have ruined Thiago’s stay at Anfield and have pushed him down the pecking order at the club. Academy graduates Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott are now comfortably ahead of him in the squad hierarchy, while the club’s first-choice midfield pairing of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo continue to hold down the fort. Cody Gakpo – who is used in the Kai Havertz rile at Arsenal sometimes – and Ryan Gravenberch also have more prominence than he does. Just like the other two mentioned above, his deal expires soon and it makes more sense for him to leave the club.
Phillips and Kelleher’s cases are similar. Both are prized squad players but have only been limited to a handful of experiences thanks to Klopp’s insistence on the same 15-17 players.
Kelleher is currently deputising for Alisson who is injured, but it is known that once the Brazilian returns, the Irishman will take a backseat. However, he is good enough to start as a first-team goalkeeper and he has also garnered interest from Nottingham Forest, Celtic and a few other clubs which are tempting to him, according to reports. His discussion with Slot will be the determining factor in his continuation or exit.
Phillips, on the other hand, is enjoying a loan spell at Cardiff City in the EFL Championship and is open to remaining at the club for next season. His deal still has a few years to go but with there being no clear pathway to Liverpool’s starting XI for him, he is more inclined to seek opportunities elsewhere.
