Liverpool are approaching the winter transfer window with the quiet confidence that they might not need to bring in new signings in the middle of the season to sustain their Premier League charge. However, the club have big plans for next summer and ideas are taking shape in their recruitment meetings. Richard Hughes is also mindful that there will be players leaving as well and the club have always depended on selling well to ensure that they remain a self-sufficient club.
The Merseyside giants are flying high at the summit of the Premier League table and have an eight-point lead over reigning champions Manchester City in the standings. Liverpool have emerged as the favourites to win the Premier League ahead of a struggling Manchester City and an inconsistent Arsenal. However, behind-the-scenes work is underway to usher in the next stage of the evolution of the Liverpool squad and plans are being put in place.
Liverpool expect to be more aggressive and proactive than last summer and they have big plans to hand Slot the funds needed to carry out an overhaul of the squad if that is needed with certain players expected to move on.
The Merseyside giants are expecting to work out new deals with Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah but several other players could be moving on from Anfield at the end of the season.
Here is a list of three players who are most likely to find the exit door of Anfield in the next summer transfer window.
Caoimhin Kelleher
The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper has been in stellar form in the absence of the injured Alisson Becker and has shown why he deserves more chances. Liverpool fans are wondering why the club would even consider selling in the summer after his recent performances. However, Kelleher is almost certain to move on from Anfield at the end of the season.
He wanted to leave last summer but Liverpool blocked a move. But the Reds have little room to do that at the end of the season as he will only have a year left on his contract and Kelleher is desperate to be a number one goalkeeper somewhere else. The Irishman has failed to dislodge Alisson Becker as the number one at Liverpool and Giorgi Mamaradashvili is set to arrive from Valencia in the summer. Kelleher wants to leave Anfield next summer and Liverpool would find it hard to deny him the transfer he deserves.
Can you name the team Liverpool sold these players to?
His recent form shows that he is good enough to be a number one at a top club and several teams are expected to show interest in him next summer. Unless something drastic happens, Kelleher is bound to move on from Liverpool ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Joe Gomez
The 27-year-old defence has not made a single star in the Premier League or the Champions League and his two starting eleven appearances came in the EFL Cup. Gomez has fallen down the pecking order of defenders and has made six substitute appearances in the two major competitions. He has struggled to get any sort of proper game time this season and Arne Slot has shown enough trust in the England defender. Conor Bradley has been favoured over Gomez for the right-back slot when Trent Alexander-Arnold has not played and he is probably the fourth-choice centre-back in the squad.
He will have two years left on his contract in the summer but it would be a major surprise if Gomez doesn’t want to leave the club at the end of the season. Liverpool want to sign one more centre-back and it is only likely to further limit his opportunities. The defender will have takers in the Premier League and the Reds are likely to command a sizable fee from his departure given his experience and the years left on his contract. His departure would be good for both the club and the player.
Federico Chiesa
Liverpool were hailed for signing Federico Chiesa for a reasonable transfer fee in the summer and it was seen as a low-cost gamble by the club. However, it seems the gamble has not paid off. Chiesa has played just 78 minutes of football and has not been fit to play since before the October international break. Arne Slot has been visibly annoyed by the level of fitness he has seen from the winger and has admitted there is work to do if he wants to match the intensity of his teammates.
The Merseyside giants have played down talk of a January exit despite claims that several teams in Italy are exploring signing him on loan. However, the Italian winger has all to prove and for starters, he needs to show that he can remain fit to be available for selection consistently. Chiesa is said to be keen on proving his worth at Liverpool in the second half of the season but the signs are not good for him. If he doesn’t show a marked improvement in his fitness levels from now until the end of the season, Liverpool are likely to want to cut their losses and move him on next summer.
