Liverpool transfer surprise after defender makes exit - 'He was very happy'

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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot speaks to Kostas Tsimikas(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Kostas Tsimikas leaving Liverpool has been deemed "a surprise" by his former international boss.

Tsimikas will spend the season on loan at Roma in Serie A after dropping down the left-back pecking order at Anfield following the arrival of Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth for £40million during the summer.

The Greece international has spent five years at Liverpool and made 115 appearances, winning the Premier League, the FA Cup - in which he scored the winning penalty against Chelsea in 2022 - and two League Cups.

Tsimikas is under contract at Anfield for another two years and has long been a popular member of the squad.

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And Gus Poyet, who was in charge of the Greece national team between 2022 and 2024, admits he didn't expect to see the 29-year-old leave Liverpool.

“Tsimikas’ move to Roma surprised me, because he was very happy at Liverpool, but perhaps the rotation and not playing often had an impact," he said.

“We talked about it in the national team, when I was coaching Greece, as soon as he signed his contract renewal with the Reds (in 2023).

I imagine Roma will have convinced him, perhaps by speaking with the coach.

"It would be really interesting to understand how the Giallorossi changed his mind."

Poyet added: “I haven’t followed Roma much, but from the information I’ve gathered, I know they play with three defenders.

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“The key issue is how much opportunity Tsimmy has to play on the wing, as a full-back, with the freedom to participate and push forward because he knows he has a defender behind him ready to protect him.

"I think his characteristics are a good fit for that system, more so than a back four.”