Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah have announced their departure from Liverpool. (Image: Getty Images)
Barring board intervention, Arne Slott will remain Liverpool’s head coach until the start of the 2026-27 season. The Dutchman has one year left on his three-year contract and will hope he will be given the chance to correct the shortcomings of what has been a very disappointing campaign, unless the reigning Premier League champions fail to qualify for the Champions League next week.
Slott made a similar admission in a press conference on Thursday morning, saying: “I don’t think I’m making the decision alone, but I have every reason to believe that I’m the manager of Liverpool next season.” “First of all, I’m under contract with this club and secondly, from all the negotiations we’re having. That’s my view.”
It remains to be seen whether Slott will continue in his role or the responsibility will be handed over to another man, but what is absolutely certain is that Liverpool will need to be busy once again in this summer’s transfer window if they are to assemble a squad with the depth and balance needed to challenge for honors both domestically and in Europe.
The Reds spent a club-record £448m on new players last summer, but they still have a squad that needs significant restructuring if they are to return to their previous title-winning heights.
Achieving that goal would require the transfer of many current players, and surprisingly, the number of departures could reach double digits. At least two players are already set to leave, but below we outline 10 first-team stars who could leave Anfield permanently by the end of the month.
Salah, an icon of the club, will bid farewell to his brilliant nine-year career at Liverpool every Sunday against Brentford at Anfield. The Egyptian only signed a new two-year contract 12 months ago, but a decline in form and productivity has led to the club and player mutually agreeing to an early end to his contract.
Replacing Salah is virtually impossible, but no one is willing to waste time.
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Vice-captain Robertson is also an honored Anfield stalwart, having been at the club for as long as Salah. However, this season he has been forced to share the left-back role with summer signing Milos Kerkes, and there is a possibility that he could move to Tottenham in January.
The Scotland captain’s contract expires next month, but at 32 he is ready for a new challenge elsewhere.
Like Salah and Robertson, Alisson is a two-time Premier League winner and Champions League hero. He is also widely considered to be Liverpool’s best goalkeeper of the past 50 years. However, despite injury hampering his playing days and he remains the first-choice shot-stopper, reports suggest the Brazil international is inching closer to a summer move to Juventus.
He is also a very difficult player to replace.
Currently the only senior scouter in Liverpool’s squad, Jones is now 25 years old, but despite making 32 Premier League appearances this season, he is yet to truly establish himself as a fixture in the Reds’ midfield. Jones, who was recently used as a temporary right-back in the slot, is likely to prefer playing in his natural role and could therefore consider leaving at the end of the season.
The academy graduate has 12 months left on his contract at the end of the season and has been linked with a move to Inter Milan. He also represents a salable asset, meaning any move could help generate funds to reinvest in new hires.
Arne Slott will remain as Liverpool’s head coach. (Image: Getty Images)
Gomez joined Anfield from Charlton in 2015 and is Liverpool’s longest-serving player. Yet, despite being a key player in the side that won the Premier League title in 2019-29, he was more often seen as a utility man for the Reds than guaranteed a first-team regular.
After more than a decade of dedicated service, Gomez could have left the club at the start of the season before the transfer of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi fell through on deadline day. And with just 12 months remaining on his existing contract, the 28-year-old recently admitted his future remains uncertain.
“I don’t know if that’s the honest answer. I don’t know because I only have one year left on my contract,” he told the Liverpool Echo after the 1-1 draw with Chelsea. “Whatever happens, I’m very grateful to have had this time at this club. I’ll always be grateful to have spent 11 years in a place like this. All I can do is be grateful. We’ll see.”
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At 27, Mac Allister has already achieved more throughout his career than most footballers can dream of, but that doesn’t make him untouchable.
The midfielder, who won the World Cup with Argentina and won the Premier League with Liverpool, was often the driving force in the engine room as the Reds won titles, but his performances have dropped dramatically this season. Liverpool are consistently outclassed in midfield, so this is one area where strengthening will definitely be a priority next summer, and if a high-profile signing arrives, it could be Mac Allister who is shown the door.
Like Jones, he is a valuable asset, meaning a summer departure cannot be discounted.
Japanese midfielder Endo joined the club at the age of 30, almost three years ago. Unfortunately, he suffered a serious ankle ligament injury against Sunderland that required surgery and cut his season short, but the question remains – has he already donned a Liverpool shirt for the last time? Endo will aim to return in time for this summer’s World Cup, but with his playing time consistently limited at Liverpool, it may be time for him to take on a new challenge elsewhere. His existing contract has been extended until 2027.
Expectations were high when Juventus star Chiesa was acquired in August 2024, but despite becoming something of a cult hero in the Kop, he actually joins a modest collection of Italian footballers who have struggled to make a real mark on Liverpool’s red shirt.
Obviously the slot is not in his favor, but a return to Italy this summer seems very likely.
Had things gone according to plan, Elliott’s official designation as a non-Liverpool player would have been effectively confirmed by now. His loan move to Aston Villa at the start of the season was intended to fulfill the Europa League finalists’ obligation to buy him for £35m. However, for some reason, manager Unai Emery chose not to use Elliott enough to trigger this deal, wasting 12 months of his career at Villa Park and leaving him to return to Liverpool at the end of the season.
However, the idea of his journey at Anfield being revived seems somewhat far-fetched given that Slott were initially happy to take him out on loan, so a summer departure elsewhere remains very much on the cards.
The ‘Greek Scouser’ etched his name into Liverpool legend after scoring the crucial penalty in the 2022 FA Cup Final against Chelsea. Last season’s Premier League champions were consistent substitutes for Robertson and a loan move to AS Roma was arranged after Kerkes arrived for £40m in the summer.
With Robertson set to leave, Tsimikas could return as cover for Kerkez, but will the 30-year-old be happy in that role and, more importantly, do Liverpool need a good replacement who can put more pressure on the Hungarian to perform at an elite level? A lot could depend on what kind of transfer activity the Reds make at the start of the campaign.
He could prove a cost-effective team solution in his unexpected return.
