Roberto Firmino will leave Liverpool in the summer but a big hint has been dropped that two are likely to follow.
Kopites will still be pinching themselves and wondering if that really happened on Sunday evening.
Not beyond their wildest fantasies did supporters believe Liverpool would triumph so emphatically against one of their most fierce rivals.
Highlights of the 7-0 routing of Manchester United would have been watched umpteen times. Every goal scored will have been celebrated just like it was the first time they were witnessing it. Ignominy was piled on Erik ten Hag’s side, while Jurgen Klopp’s troops etched another page into the Anfield history books.
Despite it being the least important, celebrations for Roberto Firmino’s goal were the most vociferous. It had emerged days earlier that the Brazil international had decided he’ll depart Anfield at the end of his contract in June. After he lashed home Liverpool’s seventh during a substitute cameo, the stadium erupted with pure joy towards a player who’ll go down as a modern-day great.
Indeed, Klopp confirmed at the full-time whistle that Firmino will leave the club after eight years. The first exit of what is already regarded as a pivotal summer transfer window has been confirmed.
Yet only hours earlier, the Liverpool boss had dropped two more summer transfer hints based on his squad selection for United.
As injured duo Thiago Alcantara and Luis Diaz watched from just behind the substitutes, Arthur Melo was sandwiched in between. Despite being back in training for the best part of a month, the Brazilian was again omitted from the Reds’ match-day squad.
It’s now five Premier League matches Arthur hasn’t been used by Klopp since overcoming a serious thigh injury. Arriving on a season-long loan from Juventus on summer transfer deadline day, the midfielder has managed just one 13-minute substitute cameo for Liverpool.
He was forced to undergo surgery in October, which wrecked his chances of making an impact on Merseyside.
Arthur recently made an outing for the under-21s in a 7-1 win over Leicester. That was on the same day as Klopp’s side’s 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace. However, in the subsequent two matches, against Wolves and United, he’s been surplus to requirements.
Liverpool have the option of purchasing Arthur for £32 million come to the transfer window. Not that it wasn’t already clear but that option will not be activated judging by recent decision-making.
Arthur wasn’t the only midfielder not in the squad against United. With Curtis Jones back involved, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was left out. The 29-year-old has not been included among the substitutes in four of the previous five matches.
After making five successive appearances immediately after the restart of the season following the World Cup, Oxlade-Chamberlain finds himself firmly back on the periphery of things. Signed for £35 million from Arsenal in 2017, a departure at the end of his contract looks highly likely.
The omission of Naby Keita against United may not be as straightforward. The Guinea international was absent from the Wolves win with a knock so may have still felt a niggle. Keita’s another who is out of contract, having been linked with a free transfer to Barcelona. Should he be left out for the trip to Bournemouth, it may be another clear indication.
Liverpool transfer news: Reds want to sign Brighton duo, but it will cost them over £150m
Liverpool want to sign two Brighton stars this summer, but they have learnt that it will cost them over £150m to do so.
That’s according to The Athletic, who have answered questions posed by supporters – largely to do with the transfer window.
As per journalist David Lynch, the Reds are ‘100 percent’ interested in signing Alexis Mac Allister at the end of the season.
The Daily Mail have also suggested that Jurgen Klopp would like to add Moises Caicedo to his squad as he rebuilds this summer.
However, The Athletic have now shed light on Seagulls’ situation, claiming it will take upwards of £150m to pry the pair away from the Amex Stadium.
Mac Allister and Caicedo would cost Liverpool over £150m
As spending goes, this is highly unrealistic for Liverpool.
The Reds may be willing to sanction a £75m move for Caicedo if FSG are feeling generous, but it’s extremely unlikely they’d meet Brighton’s £70m asking price for Mac Allister.
The club are currently looking to land £130m-rated Jude Bellingham at Anfield, so that doesn’t leave much room to bring in another two big-money midfielders.
John Henry breaks silence on Liverpool’s transfer plans as summer window picture develops
John Henry and FSG have come under fire of late as Liverpool’s fortunes on the pitch dwindled in stark comparison to the incredible heights of the prior campaign.
Living up to a season that nearly delivered a historic quadruple haul of silverware was always going to be a titanic challenge, however, few expected a collapse so significant as that which followed in 2022/23.
The scale of investment required to build on what Jurgen Klopp’s men are beginning to salvage from the wreckage has since become clear, though the Reds’ principal owner appeared to wave away the prospect of a mammoth transfer kitty being granted this summer.
“We continue building at Liverpool Football Club in a responsible manner,” the Boston Globe owner exlusively revealed to the Liverpool Echo.
“We’ve seen many football clubs (including LFC previously) go down unsustainable paths. We have and will continue to focus our attention on investing wisely in the transfer market and we remain incredibly proud of our squad.
“At the same time we continue investing in our training facilities, our main stand and currently the Anfield Road stand. These are all physical reflections of our resolve and how very seriously Fenway Sports Group takes its responsibilities for this great club.”
Historically, we have relied to a great extent on the revenue the club makes, be it from commercial income or player sales, investing sustainably with the help of analytics and the nous of negotiating experts like Michael Edwards and Julian Ward.
With there being only a few examples in the current squad who could yield genuine value for us – with Caoimhin Kelleher standing out as a prime option – however, we must beg the question as to HOW top target Jude Bellingham, and any other additions, will be funded.