Klopp's 16-player Liverpool clearout as £76m raised to fund much-needed rebuild
Jurgen Klopp inherited a Liverpool squad in dire need of inspiration when he took over in October 2015.
The German, who'd recently called time on his stint at Borussia Dortmund, was the best manager on the market but was going to need several transfer windows to get the Reds outfit challenging once again - and he certainly didn't waste any time.
Few players he took on remained part of his plans and he ruthlessly set about moving players on, some of whom had only recently joined under previous boss Brendan Rodgers. For years the German was able to enjoy a relatively low net spend and in his first summer he bought in the likes of Gini Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane, but for little outlay once sales were agreed.
It has been a tale of Liverpool under Klopp that few men have been sold in their pomp and gone on to enjoy more success elsewhere. Often they've been moved on when they were dispensable and by no means tore up trees with their new employers.
Those who left in the summer of 2016 were no exception as we take a look at who was ushered out the exit door.
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Jordan Rossiter - Rangers, £250k
The midfielder headed north of the border to join Rangers, who were looking to challenge Celtic's dominance. After several years though Rossiter was back in England, having loan spells at Bury and then Fleetwood, whom he joined permanently. Now he's at League One side Bristol Rovers.
Jose Enrique - Released
The Spaniard had spent several years at Anfield but was the wrong side of 30 as Klopp looked to inject some energy into his side. Enrique was therefore free to leave and returned home to join Real Zaragoza, retiring a year later.
Jose Enrique joined Liverpool when Kenny Dalglish was manager (Getty Images)Kolo Toure - Released
Signed by Rodgers, the former Arsenal and Manchester City defender was past his peak when he headed to Anfield, where he spent three seasons before reuniting with his former boss at Celtic, becoming a coach after retiring in 2017.
Samed Yesil - Released
At 22 the young German was allowed to seek pastures new and moved to Greek side Panionios in the January. He's also spent time in Turkey but is now back in his homeland as he prepares to turn 30.
Joao Carlos Teixeira - Porto, £250k
Porto snapped up the young Portuguese winger, but he never settled at the club, having a loan spell at Braga before being moved on to Vitória Guimarães. He then went to Feyenoord but has now found himself in Asia, signing originally with a Qatari outfit before heading to China.
Jerome Sinclair made Liverpool history as a youngster (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Jerome Sinclair - Watford, £4m
He was the youngest ever player to play for the Reds, but a career that offered a lot has delivered little and Sinclair now owns a chicken shop in Birmingham. After going to the Hornets he was serially loaned out until he was released when his contract expired.
Sergi Canos - Norwich, £2.5m
Canos had a loan spell at Brentford before he was allowed to leave Liverpool for the Canaries, but quickly found himself back in west London. He helped the Bees secure promotion to the top flight but has since been loaned out to Olympiakos.
Martin Skrtel - Fenerbahce, £5.5m
The centre-half had been a stalwart of several Liverpool teams but was eventually moved on, joining Fenerbahce, where he would spent three years. Now 38, the veteran centre-half remains a professional with Slovakia.
Jordon Ibe failed to realise his potentialJordon Ibe - Bournemouth, £15m
Ibe was highly thought of when he left the Reds and it appeared as though the Cherries could've stumbled across a future star. Klopp's willingness to let him go would not come back to haunt him however as Ibe never lived up to the hype, last playing for Adanaspor in Turkey.
Joe Allen - Stoke, £11m
The Welsh Pirlo made the move to the Potters and spent six years with the club, eventually being relegated and sticking with them in the Championship. He's now back at Swansea, where he first made his name, continuing to contribute at 33.
Liverpool transfer window winners & losers as £37m spent on Klopp's "great day"
Brad Smith - Bournemouth, £3m
The Australian came through the Reds academy, but went on to spent four years on the south coast with Bournemouth. In 2020 he moved to the Seattle Sounders, where he'd previously been on loan, and has remained in America, currently playing with Houston Dynamos.
Christian Benteke spent just one year on Merseyside (Getty Images)Christian Benteke - Crystal Palace, £27m
The Belgian was signed for a lucrative fee from Aston Villa, but was never going to ultimately work in a Klopp system. As a result he was moved on after a year with the Reds largely recouping their fee as they sold him to Crystal Palace. At Selhurst Park he scored some big goals, but was by no means prolific and is now in the MLS
Luis Alberto - Lazio, £4.3m
Alberto never made the grade at Anfield and moved to Lazio, where he has remained a regular ever since. His stock remains high in Italy as he closes in on 50 goals for the outfit from Rome.
Mario Balotelli - Nice, Free
A gamble that never paid off and, with hindsight, was never going to. He left City under a cloud and, as the Reds sought a Luis Suarez replacement, they turned to the Italian. Balotelli has struggled to settle since leaving Liverpool, producing the odd moment of brilliance, but his talent will never truly be realised as his nomadic career continues.
The Italian scored just four times for Liverpool (Getty Images)Joe Maguire - Fleetwood, Undisclosed
The left-back has spent his career in the lower echelons of the football league, spending time at the likes of Fleetwood Town and Tranmere Rovers.
Tiago Ilori - Reading, £3.75m
The Portuguese defender was regularly loaned out whilst at Anfield and that trend has continued post-Anfield. He initially moved to Reading and then headed back to Sporting Lisbon, whom he played for before Liverpool. In Portugal he's continued to do the rounds on a temporary basis.
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