It is no s/e/c/r/e/t that Liverpool has a lot on its mind ahead of the summer, with Jürgen Klopp openly acknowledging during his news conference that ‘good’ work was made on preparations for the forthcoming transfer window over the international break.
To some part, what happens will be determined by whether or not Liverpool secures Champions League football; in any case, Liverpool is bracing for some significant changes.
Some out-of-contract players have been known for some time that they would be leaving, and Roberto Firmino declared his desire to go last month as well.
Together with the Brazilian, Naby Keta, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Arthur Melo will all go for free after their contracts or loan spells.
However, Klopp intimated that, with just a few weeks remaining in the season, Keta’s latest injury setback, incurred during the international break when he was substituted at halftime for Guinea, may keep him out for the rest of the season.
The degree of Keta’s newest muscle problem is unclear, but it is consistent with his Liverpool career: he has never lived up to the hype, and when there are few other choices in the middle of the field, he is not there to deputize.
More confirmation was not required, but this latest setback for the 28-year-old demonstrates why Liverpool will go on without the $65 million (£53 million/€60 million) former RB Leipzig player.
The same can be said about Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was bought for $43 million (£35 million/€40 million). Chamberlain has been healthy but not picked for the bulk of the previous two years. He has only been on the bench in one of the previous six Premier League games and has not played a single minute at home since coming on late in the 3-0 loss at Wolves.
Despite the presence of a $40 million (£32 million/€37 million) option to p/u/r/c/h/a/s/e in his e/m/e/r/g/e/n/c/y loan stint, Liverpool never planned to retain Arthur beyond this season. Nothing has altered since then, with Arthur having only played a few minutes on the first Champions League matchday.
The lack of activity does not imply that Liverpool will not look for alternatives; on the contrary, availability is as vital as quality when it comes to summer recruitment.
But it does demonstrate why all three players will go in the summer with no concerns. The $148 million trio may not play again before the season’s finish, and even if they do, it has been evident for some time that their time at Anfield is coming to an end.
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has already signed five players as he plans a summer transfer reconstruction
It r/e/m/a/i/n/s to be seen if Jude Bellingham will be a Liverpool player when the new season begins. The race has begun, and, as has always been the case, he will be both costly and inadequate — he cannot be the sole addition to the team.
Jürgen Klopp will need additional reinforcements. With the additions of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, his front line seems to be more future-proof, but the remainder of the squad r/e/m/a/i/n/s a m/y/s/t/e/r/y.
Although it may be tempting to believe that the revamp extends beyond three or four new senior players coming in the summer, this is improbable. As many other clubs have shown in the past, integrating that amount of moves in one shot may be almost difficult.
Nevertheless, Liverpool does not need to go beyond that if the three or four players that come are the correct ones. Caoimhn Kelleher would r/e/m/a/i/n for another season in a perfect world, the goalkeeping position would be solid, and the necessity for another center-back acquisition would most likely be contingent on someone departing.
The midfield is the only position where at least two players are needed regardless of the result with Bellingham, with Mason Mount and Matheus Nunes among the candidates mentioned.
If voids exist, established players may fill them. For example, when Jamie Carragher was discussing finding a backup option for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Calvin Ramsay was brought in last summer with that goal in mind.
A handful of injuries have restricted him to two senior games, and a red card at the U21 level has hampered his career, but Ramsay is unquestionably a player for the future.
In attack, Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon continue to be outstanding players. Doak has played and impressed this season, r/e/v/e/a/l/i/n/g flashes of his potential, while Gordon should not be overlooked.
Gordon may be a few months away from full health after suffering from a long-term ailment that has kept him out for over a year, but he doesn’t turn 19 until October.
Twelve months out of action is not ideal for any young player, but if Gordon can overcome his injuries, it should not be forgotten that he started the Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal last season and is one of the most highly-rated players in the nation in his age group.
He, like Doak, was brought into Liverpool with a future in mind, and both guys have huge talents that Klopp will hope to use when the time comes.