Four Players Who Liverpool May Sell This Summer
It could be a busy summer for Liverpool and manager Jurgen Klopp.
The current Premier League champions have failed to put up much of a fight in retaining their title and it looks set to be heading back to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
The Reds will point to a defensive injury crisis as a major reason for their slump but maybe they were also too honourable in keeping a few faces around that should’ve departed last year.
I suspect the squad clear-out that should have happened last summer may happen when the transfer window reopens.
While Adrian isn’t amongst the four I’ve suggested to leave, I don’t believe his contract will be renewed beyond June. I also expect Georginio Wijnaldum to leave on a Bosman, with FC Barcelona his likeliest destination according to TeamTalk.
The four first team squad members that could be facing the chop are Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi, Joel Matip and Naby Keita.
Swiss star Shaqiri undoubtably has talent but he’s failed to hold down a regular spot in the last two seasons. He’s picked up too many injuries and that’s really stalled his career at Anfield.
He hasn’t proved himself when asked to play out wide and The Reds would want someone who offers more consistency.
Stated at the start of the campaign he wanted to play more and make an impact:
“When you are injured or just don’t play, you are disappointed. But I am looking forward to next season and will try to help the team at any time. So I have a chance to play again like in the first season.”
Shaqiri via Show Sport
That hasn’t worked out of Shaqiri this term and the attacker would benefit from taking a step back and getting first team football elsewhere.
While every Liverpool fan will remember Divock Origi for his famous goals against Barca in the Champions League and against Merseyside rivals Everton, the striker hasn’t realised his full potential at Anfield.
Has failed to score or create an assist this season and is no longer seen as a useful Plan B to have at the club. Would benefit in moving to a club that will use him as their focal point and give him a run of games as their number nine. It’s clear he won’t get that opportunity again at Liverpool.
Joel Matip is a solid defender and has looked capable when playing alongside Virgil van Dijk (Who hasn’t?) but the twenty-nine year old is very injury prone.
When Van Djik and Joe Gomez were sidelined with longterm knocks, a lot of pressure was heaped onto Joel’s shoulders and unfortunately he succumbed to yet another injury setback.
Has missed far too many games during his Liverpool career and with The Reds being linked heavily with RB Leipzig centre-back Ibrahima Konate (Source Daily Mail), I feel it might benefit Liverpool to move Matip on.
Much was expected from Naby Keita when he first arrived in England during the off-season of 2018. Unfortunately the Guinean has never found his rhythm on Merseyside.
The twenty-six year old has missed twenty-three games this season due to injuries and illness. When fit he hasn’t shown Klopp what he’s really capable of. In his fourteen appearances this term, he hasn’t scored or created an assist. During his two and a half seasons at the club, Naby has only scored four league goals and only has four assists to his name.
Naby Keita hasn’t lived up to the £48m price tag (Via BBC Sport) and it may be best for all involved if he tries to resurrect his career elsewhere next season. Now Liverpool won’t recoup that large fee that they forked out a few years back, so maybe they could loan him out for a season and see if that helps him rediscover his form and then take it from there!
I would also suggest that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ben Woodburn and Ben Davies should worry that their futures at Anfield are also under threat.
Getting rid of those four players, plus seeing Adrian and Wijnaldum leave on frees, will see a sizeable load lifted from The Reds wage budget. That would then allow Jurgen Klopp a chance to freshen his pool of players up and get them ready to wrestle the title back from City next term.
Posted on March 31st, 2021 by scott
Filed under: Article
[…] As I mention on this website last month, this summer could spell the end of Divock Origi’s time at Anfield. The Belgian striker hasn’t reached his full potential on Merseyside and he’s no longer a viable back up either. […]