ECHO writers have their say on whether Liverpool should look to retain any of the senior players soon to be out of contract

Sport

Paul Gorst Liverpool FC correspondent and Ian Doyle

05:00, 02 May 2024



Arne Slot is set to become Liverpool's next manager(Image: Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)

It's now only a matter of time before Arne Slot is confirmed as the new Liverpool manager in place of the departing Jurgen Klopp.

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And there could be some decisions for the Dutchman to be part of before he even officially takes charge, with three players falling out of contract.

As things stand, Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara and Adrian are all set to walk away at the end of the season and have been able to talk with clubs from abroad since January.

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But here the ECHO's Liverpool writers debate whether the Reds should look to extend the Anfield stay of any of the imminently-exiting triumvirate.

Thiago has been a drain on the wage bill, younger, more durable replacement needed

Paul Gorst: Having played just five minutes of football in 12 months, it's fair to say it's been terrible period for Thiago Alcantara.

To compound matters from Liverpool's perspective, the gifted midfielder would have been a real asset for Jurgen Klopp's side as they aimed to take more control of games as they hunted down the title in recent months.

Reportedly earning close to £200,000 a week, Thiago has earned an eye-watering amount while being unable to contribute anything on the pitch itself these past 12 months.

In truth, that is the way it has generally been for him since his 2020 switch.

It's why a free transfer beckons for the one-time Barcelona and Bayern Munich star, freeing up a big chunk of change on the wage bill to hopefully be reinvested into younger, more durable midfielders capable of really helping out.

Thiago's final year has been one to forget and you cannot colour his time with the Reds in too much of a positive light given the paltry offering of the final year.

It's been a major disappointment.

Matip has plenty of experience he can still impart on younger defenders

Ian Doyle: Given all three of the players who are falling out of contract are in the thirties, it would make perfect sense for Liverpool to wish them well and make no attempt to persuade them to stay.

Thiago Alcantara, for example, has featured for just a few minutes in the last 12 months with his injury problems having prevented him from fully realising the obvious talent that was on show at first Barcelona and then Bayern Munich.

Adrian has been a solid servant and an important and popular member of the squad, although his work has largely been behind the scenes having not played a senior game since helping Liverpool with the Community Shield in July 2022 and last featured in the Premier League more than three years ago.

Joel Matip, though, is a different case.

The Cameroonian was in sparkling form and centre-back partner to Virgil van Dijk on merit before his season was curtailed in December due to an ACL injury.

Approaching his 33rd birthday, that won't be an easy issue to overcome but Matip has plenty of experience he can still impart on younger defenders such as Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah, and when back fit would be an obvious option to new manager Slot.