- Arne Slot will want to assess his options this summer before making decisions
- But there are likely to be a few outgoings with the club keen to trade wisely
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Liverpool are set for a relatively quiet summer of incomings as Arne Slot inherits a squad in pleasing health, with only minor surgery required to fulfil his stated ambitions of bettering last season’s third-place finish in the Premier League.
Unlike last summer, when major changes were needed to overhaul an aging and lacklustre midfield, the new head coach knows he has a quality group of players to work with.
The Dutchman will want to assess all of his options before making drastic alterations.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a few outgoings this summer. New Fenway Sports Group CEO of Football Michael Edwards is keen to trade wisely and there could be a number of permanent exits to raise cash, plus some loan moves.
Here, Mail Sport looks at those fringe players who could leave permanently or on loan this summer though in most cases, Slot will want to have a chance to run the rule over each before sanctioning any exits…
NAT PHILLIPS
Newly-promoted Ipswich are one of several clubs keeping an eye on Nat Phillips after enjoying an impressive loan at Championship club Cardiff. The Welsh side are keen on him returning. Other second-tier sides, plus German teams including Mainz, want to sign the defender.
Phillips has a cult status at Anfield after several pleasing performances in the 2021-22 season – when Liverpool’s defence was obliterated by injuries – but has struggled for game-time since and has been out on loan three times, also to Bournemouth and Celtic.
His contract expires next summer and Liverpool are believed to value him at around £8million. Regardless of the price he leaves for, he will depart Anfield with good memories.
BOBBY CLARK
The young midfielder earned rave reviews after several performances when Liverpool were stretched by injury last season and he is attracting a lot of interest from clubs across Europe for a potential move this summer.
Norwich has been mooted as a potential destination with new director of football, Ben Knapper, keen on the 19-year-old, while former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders is a big fan and could take him to Red Bull Salzburg. Fellow Red Bull club Leipzig are also interested.
ADRIAN
The 37-year-old has made just 26 appearances for Liverpool after five seasons at the club but has been a big part of the dressing room camaraderie and coaching for younger goalkeepers. He was offered a new deal last month.
But the Spaniard is now on the verge of joining Spanish outfit Real Betis, which would see him return to his hometown of Seville and the club he was at for 14 years to start his career. He will fill a homegrown spot at Estadio Benito Villamarin and will likely have coaching duties.
He joined Liverpool on a free transfer in 2019 and has been a good servant but now wants to finish his career in his homeland.
TYLER MORTON
RB Leipzig are leading the chase for Tyler Morton after an impressive season on loan at Hull City – where he also established himself as an England Under 21 regular – and multiple English sides are also keen for the midfielder who Liverpool value at £20million.
Bournemouth, Southampton and Ipswich are among those to be monitoring developments, along with Atalanta. Leipzig have made initial enquiries and are leading the way.
In an interview with Mail Sport earlier this year, Morton said he idolised Steven Gerrard after snubbing Everton to join the club as a kid. Morton, 21, would love to stay at Anfield but competition for places in midfield is fierce.
FABIO CARVALHO
Like Morton, he had a successful loan at Hull last season after joining them in the January window. Fabio Carvalho is now being courted by many in England and on the continent, with a growing list of suitors keen.
Those clubs include previous side Fulham – where he first made his name – along with Southampton, Leicester and clubs in Germany, France, Spain and Holland, most of which have qualified for European competition.
No interest is advanced yet and Liverpool are keen to give Carvalho a good look in pre-season before sanctioning any exit. The midfielder is not desperate to leave and wants to prove to the new coaching staff he deserves a place moving forward.
CAOIMHIN KELLEHER
Nottingham Forest made a bid of around £15million in the January transfer window but that was swiftly rejected by Liverpool – and they were vindicated after he deputised admirably while Alisson had a lengthy lay-off with a hamstring injury.
Forest, led by former keeper Nuno Espirito Santo, are still keen – as are a number of other clubs – but they could be put off by Liverpool’s valuation of up to £35m. Forest are expected to sign Brazilian keeper Carlos Miguel which could end their chase for the Irish international.
Liverpool would not stand in his way if Kelleher did want to leave. He stated last month in an interview with The Athletic that he is ready to go on and search for regular game-time as a No 1. But the Reds will have to see a big fee if he is to depart this summer.
JAMES MCCONNELL
A host of Championship clubs are keen on signing James McConnell on loan after an impressive breakout season for Liverpool playing in the No 6 role, including Hull, Blackburn and Derby.
With all potential loan deals from Liverpool, it is worth bearing in mind the clubs they have good relationships with after past moves. They have repeatedly loaned players to Bolton in the last few years for example, most notably Conor Bradley.
After Tyler Morton and Fabio Carvalho both enjoyed impressive spells in east Yorkshire with Hull, the Tigers are another club the Anfield side hold in high esteem due to their playing style, though that could change after Liam Rosenior was sacked as manager.
SEPP VAN DEN BERG
Liverpool value the defender at around £20m after an impressive year at Mainz, where he won several accolades. Wolfsburg were leading the charge for the Dutchman as a potential replacement for Maxence Lacroix, who is set to depart.
Mainz would be keen on a return if they are not put off by his fee, with the club also keeping tabs on the aforementioned Phillips. Southampton are also keen on signing the defender, still only 22.
After joining from PEC Zwolle for £1.4m in 2019, this would represent stellar business if Liverpool were to get their asking price and prove how Liverpool use the loan market to grow value for their players.
Bologna are also keen on Van den Berg if Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori departs as expected.
LUKE CHAMBERS
Another one who enjoyed a good loan last season, impressing at League One outfit Wigan in the second half of the season. Chambers has interest from the Championship and some foreign clubs – but like with many, will likely be assessed by Slot before any exits are sanctioned.
The same goes for Ben Doak, who did not kick a ball after Christmas due to a worrying injury. Liverpool could decide the Scotsman needs more regular football in the form of a loan but he will likely be given a chance to impress in pre-season. Kaide Gordon is in a similar boat.
KOSTAS TSIMIKAS
It would not be a huge surprise if Kostas Tsimikas left Liverpool this summer after falling down the pecking order in the recently-completed season – but the Greek left back signed a new deal less than 12 months ago.
Any departure would depend on a club coming in with a suitable offer. There are teams across the continent keeping tabs. Liverpool would not force Tsimikas out if he is happy to stay and acknowledge that he is not a first-choice option.
There had been interest from Bayern Munich in fellow left back Andy Robertson, the Scotland captain, but that seems to have died down. Likewise with Joe Gomez, Saudi Arabian sides have been circling for around a year but talk has quietened in the last weeks for the England full back.