Liverpool transfer decisions: Van Dijk, Kelleher, Curtis Jones, more

Liverpool will miss out on Champions League soccer subsequent yr. There have been some actually tough moments this season, they’re dropping sporting director Julian Ward (a disciple of Michael Edwards, who constructed the present squad earlier than leaving a yr in the past), and there may be some uncertainty with the possession who initially put all or a part of the membership up on the market, solely to later change their minds.

That stated, we do not assume they’re that distant. Top to backside, that is most likely the second-best squad within the Premier League. They’ve been fairly forward-thinking with their signings and contract extensions (although they’ve had a few misses, too) and usually are not in a state of affairs the place they want main surgical procedure this summer time, offered they imagine this previous season was only a blip they usually proceed to place confidence in Jurgen Klopp. (And, as we see it, they need to.)

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The subject is midfield, as evidenced by their pursuit of Jude Bellingham. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita are all being launched, which ought to liberate some cash to ideally herald two gamers. Ogden is especially bullish right here, pondering that for lower than what they might have spent for Bellingham, they might most likely add a dynamic Ligue 1 midfielder and a confirmed Premier League participant, like Alexis Mac Allister (who has a launch clause) or Mason Mount (who’s one yr away from free company).

(It looks like a transfer for Mac Allister is near being introduced and whereas that may assist, they want more assist in midfield.)

There’s a giant name to be made round Trent Alexander-Arnold, too. Do you change him right into a midfielder, which suggests discovering a right-back who’s prepared for the primary staff? Do you’re employed on the model of him we noticed late within the season, getting into midfield? Or are you tempted to maneuver on if the suitable supply is available in?

Editor’s Note: This is the third in a sequence of tales over the approaching weeks making use of the identical “who to keep, who to extend and who to move on” strategy to all the highest golf equipment within the Premier League and Europe. You can discover our Manchester City version right here, and our Arsenal version right here.

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Goalkeepers

Alisson (30 years outdated, contract expires in 2027)

Verdict: Keep

Adrian (36, 2023)

MARCOTTI: He has been an excellent servant to the membership however has slipped to No. 3 and, at his age, you think about he needs to be a minimum of a No. 2.

Verdict: Release

Caoimhin Kelleher (24, 2026)

OGDEN: The key query right here is whether or not he needs to proceed as Alisson’s backup. He’s battling Gavin Bazunu for the Ireland keeper function, and he has now been a backup for 2 seasons. Not taking part in recurrently is not going to assist him. He may ask for a transfer, during which case I feel Liverpool could be grown up about it and he might additionally fetch an excellent payment.

MARCOTTI: I broadly agree, although I ponder if he might be loaned to a Premier League staff for a season to get taking part in time. It may additionally assist in the event that they have been to maneuver him on subsequent summer time.

You can view him as a long-term alternative for Alisson, however the actuality is Alisson has a lot left within the tank. Kelleher is 24 and possibly is not going to need to wait round one other 5 or 6 years. But in fact, if he leaves, you both lengthen Adrian one other season if he is comfortable to remain or you need to discover a backup.

Verdict: Keep

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Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold (24 years outdated, contract expires in 2025)

OGDEN: It’s an enormous query. If you retain him, you need to lengthen him. If not, that is the time to unload him, although his talent set is so distinctive that I’m undecided what number of groups could be all in favour of him. It’s right down to how Klopp sees him. I’m undecided he is dynamic sufficient to play in midfield on a Klopp staff, so the query is to what diploma you belief him at proper again.

MARCOTTI: I feel what he provides you going ahead is so vital that I can dwell along with his occasional defensive mishaps. Plus, he can enhance. I agree: It must be Klopp’s name, and it is a large one, however I feel he’ll need to maintain him. And meaning you need to give him a long-term deal.

OGDEN: I’m undecided it is a resolution that you must make right away. He’s an area lad, he is dedicated to the membership, he’ll need to keep, I feel you may wait to see how the brand new season unfolds with the brand new signings and decide in October or November.

Verdict: Split (maintain and lengthen his contract/maintain and wait)

Ibrahima Konate (23, 2026)

MARCOTTI: I feel he has been distinctive.

Verdict: Keep

Virgil van Dijk (31, 2025)

OGDEN: He’s totemic, you need to look to increase him.

MARCOTTI: I do not see any cause to increase him now. He’s 32 in July, he has one other two years, he is not the form of man who’s going to grouse and attempt to drive a transfer subsequent summer time when he has a yr left or wind down his contract so he can depart on a free. I feel you may bide your time, see the place you might be, see the place he’s and see what he needs to do.

Verdict: Split (Keep/Keep, however don’t lengthen his contract)

Joe Gomez (25, 2027)

OGDEN: He’s versatile, I simply do not assume he is superb on a constant foundation. He hasn’t kicked on, however he is an excellent squad participant.

MARCOTTI: I agree. Plus I’m undecided you’d get important cash for him.

Verdict: Keep

Joel Matip (31, 2024)

MARCOTTI: He’s 32 in the summertime, he is performed little or no in three of the previous 4 years, I see no want to increase his contract.

OGDEN: I feel you need to lengthen him, as a result of the choice is Nat Philips. Or, in the event you discover a new membership for him, you need to herald one other centerback.

Verdict: Split (maintain/maintain and lengthen, or discover a new membership)

Nat Phillips (26, 2025)

OGDEN: Klopp by no means performs him. He was on mortgage at Bournemouth final yr, and this yr he made two league appearances. Somebody will give them cash for him; he did a job throughout lockdown in spite of everything. I feel they will get £10m or £15m for him. Let’s not overlook, they received £17m for Neco Williams and £23.5m for Rhian Brewster in transfer charges, in order that they’re actually good at getting good cash for his or her younger gamers.

MARCOTTI: I assume he needs to play, so let him go and look to herald a younger middle again whom you may develop and may then substitute the depth he offers.

Verdict: Split (mortgage/discover a new membership)

Rhys Williams (22, 2026)

OGDEN: Another man who performed properly throughout lockdown when all people was damage. But he has been on mortgage the previous two years, so it is time to discover him a brand new membership in the event you can or a minimum of mortgage him out.

Verdict: Split (mortgage/discover a new membership)

Andy Robertson (29, 2026)

Verdict: Keep

Konstantinos Tsimikas (27, 2025)

MARCOTTI: I do not see a cause to provide him a brand new deal. He’s locked up for 2 years. He does a good job when he is available in, and I like the truth that he is totally different from Robertson.

Verdict: Keep

Calvin Ramsay (19, 2027)

OGDEN: This yr was a write-off for him with accidents, however he was extremely rated when he arrived. Let him get match and see what he can supply. If it really works out, he will be the choice to Alexander-Arnold.

Verdict: Keep

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Midfielders

Fabinho (29 years outdated, contract expires in 2026)

Verdict: Keep

Stefan Bajcetic (18, 2027)

OGDEN: He signed a brand new deal this yr and was good when he received on the pitch, so I’d maintain him.

MARCOTTI: I agree he has been good, however I feel it is vital that he will get minutes on the pitch. You’ll don’t have any drawback discovering a house for him on mortgage if, after assessing the incoming gamers, you assume he is not going to get common soccer.

Verdict: Split (maintain … in the event you may give him constant taking part in time)

Thiago Alcantara (32, 2024)

OGDEN: You’re caught with him, he is by no means match, no one goes to take him along with his wages. Good participant when match, however you may’t depend on him being match.

MARCOTTI: You cannot depend on him due to his accidents, however when he is there he can contribute. See the place you might be on the finish of the season. He’ll be 33, there is no have to rush right into a deal.

Verdict: Keep

Naby Keita (28, 2023)

OGDEN: He has been a disappointment and as such, they’re letting him go.

Verdict: Released

Curtis Jones (22, 2027)

OGDEN: You maintain Bajcetic and let Jones go. He ended the season properly and had some superb performances (Leicester involves thoughts). But you will get a good transfer payment in return — he nearly went to Villa initially of final season.

MARCOTTI: I admire he’d have a market, however it completely is dependent upon who is available in. With the three midfielders leaving on free transfers, Jordan Henderson properly into his 30s and Thiago’s health, perhaps it would not damage to maintain one other dwell physique within the squad. And he has had his moments.

Verdict: Split (discover him a brand new membership/maintain)

Arthur (26, 2023)

OGDEN: I’m fairly positive Liverpool did not take up the choice to amass him on a everlasting foundation… and rightly so.

Verdict: Do not take possibility

Jordan Henderson (32, 2025)

OGDEN: There’s a idea that perhaps he can return to Sunderland and get them again into the Premier League. That could be a romantic story. He positively provides you one thing, however he is 33 in June. It’s time to maneuver on.

MARCOTTI: Unless he needs to go, I feel you retain him. He’s an incredible chief, perhaps he could be a James Milner sort down the highway. Squad captain sort of factor. I actually would not plan on him beginning 30 league video games — not least as a result of he hasn’t executed that since 2015 — however he is an excellent man to have round.

Verdict: Split (discover him a brand new membership/maintain)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (29, 2023)

MARCOTTI: It’s not arduous to see why they launched him. He wants a recent begin elsewhere.

Verdict: Released

James Milner (37, 2023)

MARCOTTI: He made a ton of league appearances this yr, and he is a man Klopp evidently trusts. If he wished to remain on decreased wages and an ever-reducing function, I might have had no drawback with it. But evidently he and the membership determined it was time to maneuver on.

Verdict: Released

Harvey Elliott (20, 2027)

OGDEN: No cause to increase him but, however proceed to play him. He has performed properly, it is vital that he continues to get significant taking part in time.”

Verdict: Keep

Fabio Carvalho (20, 2027)

MARCOTTI: Obviously it didn’t work out for him this season, but he showed the year before at Fulham that he has real quality. However, if everybody is fit, he will be well down the pecking order this year and, at his age, you want to get him playing time.

Loan him out to somewhere he can play regularly and then see where you are in a year’s time. He might be somebody who can return and be effective, or he might be somebody who is just not right for this club. But either way, with a solid season of regular football you can better assess him. And you can get a better transfer fee if he leaves.

Verdict: Loan him out

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Forwards

Luis Diaz (26 years outdated, contract expires in 2027)

OGDEN: He’s over his accidents, he is distinctive when match, they usually actually missed him this yr.

Verdict: Keep

Cody Gakpo (24, 2028)

Verdict: Keep

Diogo Jota (26, 2027)

Verdict: Keep

Mohamed Salah (30, 2025)

OGDEN: His objectives this season confirmed they have been proper to provide him a brand new deal final summer time. There’s no have to rush into one other extension, nonetheless, given he is over 30.

Verdict: Keep

Darwin Nunez (23, 2028)

Verdict: Keep

Roberto Firmino (31, 2023)

MARCOTTI: I feel he can contribute, however the resolution to launch him is the proper one each for him and for the membership, I feel, given the variety of forwards.

Verdict: Released