Five Liverpool players confirmed for permanent exits as Klopp clears the decks

09 May 2023 , 08:36

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Five Liverpool players confirmed for permanent exits as Klopp clears the decks

After a season of turmoil, Jurgen Klopp is set to embark on a major overhaul of his beleaguered Liverpool squad this summer.

Less than 12 months after the Reds saw their hopes of clinching an unprecedented quadruple dashed, Klopp's men are fighting to qualify for next year's Champions League. But regardless of whether or not they bag a top-four finish or not, big changes are coming at Anfield.

A revamp of Klopp's midfield is on the cards and a host of high-profile names have already been linked with a move to Liverpool: including Brighton talisman Alexis Mac Allister and Bayern Munich's highly-rated Ryan Gravenberch.

Jurgen Klopp is set to overhaul his Liverpool squad in the summer (Getty Images)

However, it's not just incoming deals that Klopp and the Anfield hierarchy will have their sights on this summer, with a whole raft of players set to leave Merseyside for good in the coming months.

Unsurprisingly, given Klopp's desire to rebuild his midfield, the bulk of the names expected to be leaving Anfield are players of that position. Arthur Melo has failed to make any sort of impact since arriving on a deadline day loan deal back in the summer and he confirmed earlier this week that he hopes to "say goodbye" to Liverpool fans before returning to Juventus in the summer.

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Fellow midfielders Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also set to depart the club when their deals expire at the end of the campaign. Both have been plagued by injuries and were previously linked with transfers back in January.

Join the debate! Where do you think Liverpool need to strengthen in the summer? Let us know here.

Roberto Firmino has already confirmed that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season (Getty Images)

James Milner also looks increasingly likely to follow that trio out the exit door, with a switch to Brighton being mooted. The 37-year-old is also in the final year of his deal and Klopp made it clear with comments earlier this week that Milner is leaning towards seeing out his playing career elsewhere.

And last but by no means least, Anfield favourite Roberto Firmino has already confirmed that he will be moving on to pastures new when his contract is up in a few weeks' time.

Firmino has plundered over 100 goals for the Reds since joining the club from Hoffenheim eight years ago to achieve cult hero status but has been in and out of the team in recent months. The striker is expected to have his pick of clubs as a free agent. Barcelona are rumoured to be interested in acquiring his services.

A host of other players, including defenders Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams, could also be sacrificed this summer in order to raise funds for Klopp's ambitious rebuild, although nothing concrete has been confirmed. Summer signing Fabio Carvalho could also consider his future after featuring just once in the Premier League since the turn of the year.

Dan Marsh