by kazza » Sat Jul 03, 2021 5:05 am
Liverpool chief Michael Edwards puts eight players up for sale
Liverpool are plotting a major squad overhaul in the summer transfer window after failing to defend their Premier League title last season.
Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards is set to put as many as eight players up for sale as the Reds plot a major squad overhaul this summer. Injuries ravaged Jurgen Klopp’s squad last season, leading to many back-ups being handed significant playing time.
But those back-ups largely failed to impress when handed starring roles in the place of their injured team-mates.
The lack of quality in Klopp’s squad was one of the main factors in the implosion of the Reds’ Premier League title defence.
They finished a distant third to champions Manchester City, with a run of six successive home losses putting paid to their hopes of winning a second successive league title.
Last season’s disappointment exposed the poor options that Klopp has to call on beyond his main starters.
That means that a major squad overhaul is on the way at Anfield this summer, with a significant number of outgoings and incomings.
Georginio Wijnaldum has already departed on a free transfer, but that is something Liverpool would ideally have hoped to have avoided.
Joining Wijnaldum through the exit door could be several others, with Goal reporting that as many as eight stars could be heading for departures after Edwards put them up for sale.
Divock Origi has scored some important goals for the Reds since joining the club from Lille but it is said that he will be allowed to leave this summer.
The striker scored just one goal in all competitions last season, though Wolves are reportedly long-time admirers of the Belgian.
Origi’s fellow back-ups in the attacking areas are also be at serious risk of leaving Merseyside having also failed to impress Klopp last term.
Xherdan Shaqiri and Takumo Minamino look set to be on their way, with Goal stating that “good offers” for the pair will be considered.
Two more members of the first team squad last season will also be allowed to depart, despite both making key contributions.
The first is Nat Phillips, who will be let go if suitors Burnley, Southampton, Brighton or Newcastle match his valuation.
Liverpool will also listen to offers for Phillips’ fellow defender Neco Williams, who made a handful of appearances last term.
The final members of the group of eight being put up for sale are Harry Wilson, Marko Grujic and Loris Karius.
All three have spent the past two seasons out on loan and it is felt the time is right to let them depart permanently.
Wilson is attracting interest from Benfica, with a move to the Championship also an option, while Grujic looks set for a move to Germany or Italy.
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That could easily net 100 million but some of those players have potential and I would assume that we will replace them with similarly aged players with potential, it will be interesting to see their mindset. Only Shaq and Origi would be considered at their prime, the rest are still young.