Klopp in danger of losing key Liverpool pair due to January transfer option
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is facing a mid-season headache with both Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara able to decide their futures in January.
Both players see their current deals expire next summer but have the option to agree a move in the winter transfer window. This is because they are allowed to speak to non-British clubs over signing a pre-contract agreement up to six months before the expiration of a previous deal.
The rule was put in place 28 years ago as part of the famous 1995 Bosman ruling relating to freedom of movement for professional footballers. Liverpool are among the Premier League teams impacted, and Klopp has a decision to make on both players - as well as back-up goalkeeper Adrian - ahead of the January window.
Matip underwent successful surgery for a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury sustained in the 4-3 victory over Fulham earlier this month. No timescale has been placed on a return date for the experienced centre-back, but there are fears Matip may have already played his final game for the club.
Asked about Matip's situation after his injury, Klopp said: “I’m pretty sure the club will show their class, just how they should do. I’m pretty sure the club told Joel already that whatever happens so long as he is injured. Now we have to make decisions together with Joel, how it looks after that."
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Pressed on whether that means Matip will be handed a new deal, Klopp replied: “I would say so but it’s not my decision in the end. I cannot sign the paper.”
Joel Matip has a serious knee injury while his contract expires in June (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)As for Thiago, he hasn't played for the Reds since the end of April after having surgery on a hip issue. The Spaniard missed the final six Premier League matches of the 2022/23 campaign and remains out, with Klopp hopeful he could return to action in the New Year.
Speaking on November 3, Klopp said of Thiago: "It's an ongoing thing and we cannot put any kind of pressure on there as well. We expect him to be back - and I would say probably the start of the New Year. It's now already November, so that would mean another four weeks.
Thiago Alcantara could leave Liverpool when his current contract expires (PA)"I would say that's probably a realistic thing to try and I can't wait, to be honest, to have him back. The player he is is just exceptional. I understand you ask, but it's nothing where we can have a week by week update because that will not change a lot in this moment."
If Thiago is back for the start of January, it only increases his chances of securing a move and signing a pre-contract agreement, with his contract running down. Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce were interested in a move for Thiago in the summer, while clubs in Saudi Arabia were also keeping tabs.
Adrian, meanwhile, signed a new one-year contract last summer to keep him at the club until June 2024, and it remains to be seen as to whether Klopp decides to offer him a new contract. The ex-West Ham goalkeeper has not featured for Liverpool this season and is currently third-choice.
As it stands, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will all enter the final 12 months of their deals at Anfield when Matip, Thiago and Adrian reach the end of their contracts.
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