Liverpool have had a difficult start to the season, as they sit 9th in the Premier League 15 points adrift of the top of the table, and manager Jurgen Klopp conceding the league title already. Their domestic struggles were emulated in the UEFA Champions League as well, after a 4-1 drubbing in the opener against Napoli further punished them as they finished runners-up in their group.
The Reds are now planning to dive deep into the transfer market to solve their problems, however starting with a mass clear out. Liverpool already let six players of their first-team set up leave this summer, which included the likes of Sadio Mane, Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino. They made some significant signings as well, with Darwin Nunez arriving for a club record fee, alongside Fabio Carvalho, Calvin Ramsay and on loan midfielder Arthur Melo. However, they evidently need more after constant injuries in the squad have hindered their season.
Liverpool to cash-in on trio of players in January
Liverpool are first plotting a cash injection before they bring in new players in the January transfer market. Many of their wantaway players are in the final 12 months of their contract, and are expected to leave for free next summer. However, the Reds are ready to offload some of them in the upcoming winter transfer market post the FIFA World Cup.
According to Calciomercato, the three names on the top of Liverpool’s offloading list are midfield duo Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and center-back Nathaniel Philipps. Keita and Chamberlain will have six months left on their current deals after the World Cup, and licensed to negotiate with potential suitors in January for a free transfer next summer.
Liverpool however plan to bid them goodbye in January itself, as the duo have garnered interest from the Premier League as well as foreign lands. On top of that, their injury issues are not unknown as both have missed majority of the club’s fixtures since arriving at Merseyside. This season as well, the duo have been out on the sidelines for long spells, with Keita yet to play a minute, and Chamberlain managing just one appearance in the league.
Furthermore, both are on the negative side of their 30s, with Liverpool planning an overhaul in their midfield and bring in some fresh blood and young legs. Meanwhile, Nat Philipps too has been deemed as surplus to Jurgen Klopp’s requirements in the center-back area, with Van Dijk, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate already fighting for the two spots.
Liverpool are reportedly not going to rush with new signings if their objective of selling this trio is achieved in January. They have already been dealt with a huge blow as a result of panic buying, with their deadline day signing of the summer, Arthur Melo falling prey to a long term injury and undergoing a surgery on it weeks after joining the club.
The Reds are eyeing a long term plan to change the face of their midfield which has majority of it occupants either past 30, or approaching it. After the winter exodus, they will roll their sleeves up for a busy 2023 summer, as they have identified their key targets as well. Borussia Dortmund’s 19-year-old midfielder Jude Bellingham is on top of their list, as the Reds know his acquisition will demand huge funds.