Liverpool has confirmed the club’s retained list and announced 11 departures ahead of the 2023/24 season. The exits of the popular Roberto Firmino, plus midfielders Naby Keita, James Milner, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, had previously been announced and now the quartet will be joined by an additional seven academy stars.
Young midfielder Jack Bearne (aged 21), goalkeeper Liam Hughes (21), defender Charlie Hayes-Green (18), goalkeeper Oscar Kelly (20), forward Fidel O’Rourke (21), defender Oludare Olufunwa (21), and forward Iwan Roberts (18) have all been released by the club.
Meanwhile, third-choice goalkeeper Adrian who was expected to move on this summer, has been offered a new contract.
The Spaniard, who has made just two appearances in the last two seasons, was described by the club as a ‘vital member of the goalkeeping group.’
The 36-year-old’s extension could provide the Reds with much-needed cover as the future of second-choice shot-stopper Caoimhin Kelleher remains unclear. The Irishman is believed to be seeking first-team football away from Anfield despite boss Jurgen Klopp’s reluctance to sell.
What is Liverpool thinking to do?
Liverpool is likely to demand a figure of around £ 20 million for the highly-rated 24-year-old.
An underwhelming campaign where Klopp’s side missed out on Champions League qualification is expected to see widespread changes at the club this summer.
The departures of Firmino, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner, and Keita, who all played a key role in the club’s Champions League success in 2019, will feel to many like a changing of the guard.
But injuries and loss of form have hampered Liverpool leaving Klopp with no doubts that an immediate restructuring of his squad is needed to avoid slipping further behind the Premier League’s frontrunners.
With the rebuild already underway following the £35m capture of Brighton’s World Cup-winning midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, Reds fans will be hoping the squad regeneration can help propel them back to the Champions League.
