Fabrizio Romano confirms two Liverpool stars will follow Firmino out in raw deals, with a third’s future hinging on Klopp
The anticipated summer exodus at Liverpool is gathering pace after Fabrizio Romano confirmed which two stars will follow Roberto Firmino out, while a third’s future hinges on Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool confirmed Roberto Firmino will bring his eight-year stint on Merseyside to a close at season’s end. The Brazilian’s contract will expire and as such, Liverpool will not recoup a fee for a player who still has plenty to give.
The Reds’ inability to either tie Firmino down to fresh terms or cash in while they still could will play havoc with their summer transfer budget.
A midfield overhaul is expected and primary target Jude Bellingham will not move for a penny less than £100m.
Even if Bellingham is landed, further additions will be required and the course of events that’s resulted in Firmino leaving for free looks more and more suspect with each passing week.
However, according to Fabrizio Romano, Firmino isn’t the only Reds player who’ll leave for nothing.
Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain to leave
Writing for Caught Offside, the trusted transfer guru revealed Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will also walk when their contracts expire. Both players’ current deals are up in June.
“I expect both Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to follow Roberto Firmino and leave Liverpool on a free transfer this summer,” Romano said.
Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain have struggled with injury throughout their Liverpool tenures, though both are still in their 20s and interest in the pair has been registered in the past.
Brighton, Southampton and West Ham have all drawn links to Oxlade-Chamberlain in previous windows. Keita, meanwhile, remains highly rated in Germany and has been on the radars of Borussia Dortmund and former club RB Leipzig.
Any interested party will now have the chance to act on their respective interests in the players, though will not have to pay a transfer fee.
Elsewhere, Romano added James Milner – also out of contract at season’s end – will hold discussions with Jurgen Klopp that’ll determine his fate at Anfield. Like the others, Milner’s deal expires in June.
“James Milner will decide in the next months, he will speak to Jurgen Klopp too. For all the other players (who aren’t set to become free agents), it will be decided in May/June ahead of the transfer window.”
On who the exit-bound players might join, Romano stressed there’s nothing concrete as yet.
“Firmino, Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain will explore options soon but nothing is decided yet,” added Romano.
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