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If Timo Werner joins Liverpool, who leaves?

Timo Werner.

Ahmed Mohamed discusses what should happen if Liverpool sign Timo Werner this summer and who should depart in turn.

Considering the season that Liverpool have had, many would argue that little should be done to alter the current side.

The majority of the team’s top contributors are in their primes. Furthermore, Klopp has placed an emphasis on acquiring young talent in recent transfer windows to prepare for a future rebuild.

However, links to some of the world’s rising stars has inevitably tempted Reds supporters.

Jadon Sancho and Kai Havertz would be fantastic additions, but seem to be out of Liverpool’s budget. Timo Werner, on the other hand, is keen to join Liverpool and has a relatively cheap release clause of ₤50 million.

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Liverpool still seem hesitant to shell out the money to land Werner given the financial strain inflicted by the stoppage of play.

The RB Leipzig striker has netted 27 goals and 12 assists in 37 games this season, validating his reputation as one of the world’s most clinical strikers. The simplest route that Liverpool can take to pay for the transfer is to use the money generated from the sales of current members of the squad.

For this reason, I’ve evaluated some of the players in Liverpool’s side that could depart, predicting the money that their sales could accrue and the likelihood of their departures if Timo Werner were to join the Reds (taking the COVID-19 circumstances into account).

Divock Origi
Fee: ₤15-20 million
Likelihood of Transfer: 8/10

Origi etched his name into Liverpool folklore last season thanks to his knack for scoring in critical moments.

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However, at 25, Origi may seek an opportunity to assume a more prominent role elsewhere. 

Xherdan Shaqiri

Fee: ₤12-17 million

Likelihood of Transfer: 8/10

Undoubtedly talented, it just seems that the time is right for Shaqiri to find a new club. The Swiss Champions League winner’s playing style doesn’t quite fit Jurgen Klopp’s high-intensity system. However, he still has plenty to offer and there are many teams interested in his services.   

Dejan Lovren
Fee: ₤8-13 million
Likelihood of Transfer: 7/10

Lovren falls in a similar boat to Shaqiri. Very much loved by his teammates—or Mo Salah at least—Lovren has fallen to fourth in the center back pecking order.

This is the right time for Liverpool to cash in. 

Marko Grujic
Fee: ₤12-17 million
Likelihood of Transfer: 6/10

Grujic has performed well on loan at Hertha Berlin and could provide adequate cover in the midfield for the Reds with Adam Lallana leaving.

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However, the path to meaningful playing time is tricky given the current crop of midfielders in the Liverpool squad.

Selling Grujic to a team where he can contribute allows the Serbian to further develop and Liverpool to capitalize on their ₤5 million investment from 2015. 

Harry Wilson
Fee: ₤15-20 million
Likelihood of Transfer: 6/10

Wilson is an academy graduate who has impressed on loan at Bournemouth this season. Just 23 years old, the set-piece specialist should garner plenty of interest from Premier League sides.

Georginio Wijnaldum
Fee: ₤25 million
Likelihood of Transfer: 2/10

This one seems very, very unlikely but it’s worth mentioning that Wijnaldum’s contract does run out in 2021.

Given the Dutchman’s importance to Klopp’s midfield engine, all signs point to a contract extension in the near future.

However, if negotiations continue to stall, perhaps Liverpool sell to avoid the risk of losing him for nothing a year from now.

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Verdict: Liverpool sell Origi, Shaqiri, Lovren, and Grujic & Keep Wilson and Wijnaldum

Overall, these transfers could generate anywhere from ₤47-67 million. Shaqiri seems set to leave regardless if Timo Werner comes in.

If the German does join the Liverpool ranks, it’s hard to envision a scenario where Origi accepts a role as fifth fiddle in attack.

These sales, along with those of Lovren and Grujic, should sufficiently offset the price of Werner’s release clause.

Marko Grujic wants Liverpool return next season

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However, money will also be needed to retool the backline, with a deputy to Andy Robertson and a potential Lovren replacement the top priorities.

At this point, whether or not Liverpool grant the German striker’s wishes of becoming a Liverpool player is anyone’s guess. However, if they do decide to pull the trigger, the feasibility of generating the funds to do so aren’t far-fetched.

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