4 Liverpool players that could move in the summer
It's never too early to take a look in the transfer crystal ball to try and decipher the futures of many players within the squad. With Jurgen Klopp stepping down at the end of the season, this summer is guaranteed to be one of change once again.
We're going to attempt to predict the future of four Liverpool players based on how they might fit into the future of the club.
Nathaniel Phillips
Phillips won over many Liverpool supporters during the 2020-21 season where he made 20 appearances between the Premier League and the Champions League.
The Reds defense was ravaged by injuries that season and he, alongside Rhys Williams, stepped up and did the job for Klopp in a time of crisis. However, since then, with the defensive mainstays returning to form and fitness, Phillips has fallen down the pecking order.
Currently on loan with Cardiff City following the first half of the year playing for Scottish giants Celtic, Phillips' Liverpool contract expires in the summer of 2025.
With a new manager coming in, the club might see this as their best and last chance to cash in on a solid, albeit not sensational, defender. There are many lower tier Premier League clubs that could use him and a fee between £10-£20 million doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility.
Thiago
This one is very simple at a glance. The Spaniard, while extremely talented, has battled injuries throughout his entire stay with the club.
His contract expires this summer, and while Klopp and the club are saying all the right things, there is almost no chance he signs a new deal with Liverpool.
While it would be a blow to see a player of his caliber walk away on a free, there is not much the club can do if he can't stay fit. There was a chance to sell him last summer, but he was still not healthy then and that probably scared away any real suitors.
He had some shining moments at Anfield, but ultimately, he will leave for free this summer as he continues trying to find consistent fitness. Perhaps in La Liga or Serie A?
Caoimhin Kelleher
The Irish shot stopper is seen as one of the best No. 2 keepers in England. This term, he has made 13 appearances in all competitions, which is the most in his Liverpool career.
He has made the League Cup his competition, as he did during their run to the trophy a few years ago. He still has so much ability and having him around is a great insurance policy if something ever happened to Alisson.
However, from his perspective, at 25 years old, he is close to entering the prime of his career. How much longer will he be okay playing deputy to one of the best keepers in the world?
He wants to be the undisputed No. 1 for his country, and that can only happen if he is playing regularly at the club level. While I don't think the club wants him to leave, they might have their hand forced if he pushes.
He holds strong value on the transfer market, as it's currently sitting at €15 million per Transfermarkt.
Joel Matip
Another player set to depart on a free at the end of this season, Matip has been a fine servant for the club during their many highs and few lows.
At the beginning of his Liverpool career, he battled niggling injuries but soon found his way into consistent playing time. Alongside Virgil Van Dijk, he would form one of the better center-back defensive pairs in Europe.
Matip was known for his marauding runs forward while on the ball that would put defenses under pressure because they did not expect the central defender to keep running at them.
Unfortunately, this year, also the the final on his contract, he tore his ACL meaning he would have no chance to aid the race for silverware. It's possible the club might explore bringing him back on a discount.
However, at 32, coming off of a severe knee injury, I don't see that as likely. A return to Germany on a free transfer is what I envision.