Liverpool Transfer News: Three stars 'EXPECTED' to leave this summer

Three Liverpool first-team stars are now expected to leave at the end of their contracts this summer as a new era gets underway.

The Reds are poised for a summer of change, with Jurgen Klopp and several key members of his backroom staff departing upon conclusion of the 2023/24 season.

We now have just two months left of the legendary manager's reign at Anfield, while preparations are already well underway behind the scenes for the big transition.

The return of Michael Edwards has been announced as FSG's new CEO of football overseeing sporting affairs at Liverpool (as well as a yet to be determined second club), while Richard Hughes is to come in as the new sporting director.

Xabi Alonso is widely believed to be the Reds' first-choice to succeed Klopp in the dugout, though the likes of Ruben Amorim and Roberto De Zerbi have also been linked as backup options.

While appointing the new manager is priority number one for Edwards and Hughes, there are issues to be addressed in the squad, including the futures of several key players.

The likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all on contracts due to expire in 2025, while it has been reported that negotiations will begin soon.

No contract extensions for trio

However, three players who won't be offered new terms it seems are Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip and Adrian.

According to journalist James Pearce, the three players are 'expected' to leave this summer.

He told the Athletic's Daily Football Briefing podcast: "There’s going to be ins and outs, of course there will be, in the summer. Hughes will need to establish exactly where every player is at in terms of their appetite to be part of the next era at Liverpool. You’ve got gaps that need to be filled with Thiago, Matip, and Adrian all expected to leave at the end of their contracts."

At 37, and having not played a competitive game for Liverpool since the 2022/23 Community Shield, Adrian's impending departure is unsurprising.

The Spaniard arrived on a free transfer in the summer of 2019, serving as a backup to Alisson for the first two seasons, before falling behind Caoimhin Kelleher in the pecking order.

Thiago's exit too has long been suspected. The midfielder has made just one substitute appearance for the Reds in 2023/24 as he struggles to shake off injury issues following hip surgery last year.

Regarding Matip, however, Klopp had previously suggested that the defender could be kept on, despite the season-ending ACL injury he suffered back in December.

The 32-year-old is a popular figure at Anfield among players and fans and has been an important squad player since 2016, making over 200 appearances.

While this is not the first report of his possible exit, it is the strongest assertion yet that Matip will not be offered any sort of extension as he recovers from his injury.

Speaking last year, the former Cameroon international, who has only ever played for Liverpool and Schalke 04 at senior level, suggested he would be happy to finish his career at Anfield.

When asked about his plans, Matip told Sky Germany: "I'm at an age where I don’t worry so much about the future anymore.

“I try to make the most of every day and don’t look too far ahead. If in the end it was just these two clubs [Schalke and Liverpool], I would be perfectly happy. But in football you never know for sure.”