Keep, sell, renew, loan: Assessing EVERY Liverpool squad member
Liverpool have just won the Premier League title but Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes aren't standing still.
Plans are afoot to improve the squad - with upgrades being eyed in practically every position.
READ MORE: Liverpool line up DREAM Darwin Nunez deal
The Reds have more or less opted out of the transfer window - outgoings aside - over the past year or so but that means they could be set to spend big.
READ MORE: Liverpool move one step closer to Milos Kerkez deal
However, before that happens, decisions need to made over the current crop.
Despite a title-winning campaign, Liverpool's squad looks unsettled. A lot of clarity is required over the next few weeks before Liverpool know what they will need to do in the market.
Here we assess what Liverpool need to do with their current squad members under the following criteria:
Keep - this applies to the mainstays with a part to play next season.
Sell - players who could be sold to generate funds in the market
Renew - tidy up the futures of some stars who have expiring contracts
Loan - fringe and young players who would benefit from a season away from Anfield
Goalkeepers:
Alisson Becker
There have been doubts over Alisson's long-term future for a while now. Saudi Arabian clubs are known to be interested, his injury trouble is well documented and Giorgi Mamardashvili is on his way in.
However, the 32-year-old proved again this season that he is the best goalkeeper in the world. That might not be the case by 2027 when his contract expires. But right now there's no reason to get rid of the best in the business.
Verdict: KEEP
The 26-year-old Irishman is good enough to start at practically every Premier League club but is firmly behind Alisson and now Mamardashvili in the pecking order.
Liverpool would have sold last summer if the right bid materialised but that never happened. However, with only one year left on his contract, it's time to part ways and let him flourish as a No1 elsewhere.
Verdict: SELL
Vitezslav Jaros
We are led to believe that the Czech goalkeeper has already signed a renewal, with his original terms due to expire this summer. He will be a long way behind the first two goalkeepers in any case.
Verdict: KEEP
Harvey Davies
There are conflicting reports over whether the goalkeeper is out of contract this summer or not. With the club well-stocked in the goalkeeper department, he may find himself squeezed out.
Verdict: SELL
Defenders:
Joe Gomez
It's been a nightmare season on a personal level for Gomez, even if he has secured another Premier League winner's medal. A close ally of Virgil van Dijk, it doesn't appear that the 28-year-old has got much hope of playing first-team football next season unless it's an emergency.
There was interest from Aston Villa and Newcastle last summer, with Gomez frozen out at the start of the campaign. If Richard Hughes gets a suitable offer this summer, he will be on his way.
Verdict: SELL
Virgil van Dijk
Now secured on a contract until 2027, Liverpool will have the services of the best centre-back in the world for another two seasons at least.
Turning 34 in summer, a succession plan will need to be put in place over the next couple of years and we may see the burden reduced on the captain over time.
But he's started 34 times out of 34 in the league and is the only outfield player to play every minute. There are no signs of him slowing down.
Verdict: KEEP
This is maybe the most difficult conundrum on the list. 25-year-old Konate is out of contract in 2026 and so far there are no indications that he will sign a new deal.
The club and his entourage appear to be a long way apart in their appraisals over how much a new deal will be worth. If it drags on any longer then Liverpool risk losing him for free or else for a significantly reduced fee in January.
But Konate is settled and part of a very effective partnership with Van Dijk. Given that he only has a year on his deal, replacing him in the market would be a zero-sum game at best and very expensive otherwise.
The best thing to do is find a compromise on the wages and promote the title winner up the pay scale.
Verdict: RENEW
Kostas Tsimikas
Liverpool have been linked with several left-backs in the summer transfer window - including Milos Kerkez and Antonee Robinson. If an upgrade is sourced then Tsimikas's days will surely be numbered.
A well-established international player, the Greek is at a good age (28) and has two years left on his deal. He could be a very bankable asset should the right buying club be found. Reports have linked him to Barcelona, Olympiacos and more.
Verdict: SELL
Andy Robertson
The left-back legend hasn't always been at his best this season, enduring a nightmare outing recently against West Ham that almost cost Liverpool the three points.
He has had to share duties with Tsimikas more than he would have liked and, at 31, his age is beginning to tell.
With his contract expiring in 2026, it's unlikely Liverpool could get a decent fee for him this summer and he is a standard-bearer in the squad.
He should be kept on and given the farewell he deserves next year.
Verdict: KEEP
In an idea world, Alexander-Arnold would have renewed his contract by now but the chances of him doing so are vanishingly small. Real Madrid lie in wait and - despite recent hopes - there are no indications he's had a change of heart.
However, Los Blancos are reported to be keen to add him to the ranks for the FIFA Club World Cup. That would mean an agreement would have to be reached with the Reds over ending his contract early.
A fee of around £1m has been discussed for Madrid taking on Trent from the beginning of next month. Money for nothing, really.
Verdict: RENEW (best case scenario) SELL (worst case scenario)
Jarell Quansah
He started last season in possession of the starting shirt, having ousted Konate during the run-in of Jurgen Klopp's last term in charge. The homegrown defender's rise was steep - culminating in a place in the England provisional squad for Euro 2024.
But he's suffered the sophomore's curse since then, dropping out of Liverpool contention and being earmarked for sale.
At 22, and with a new contract signed, he would bring in plenty of cash if he were to be sold - allowing Arne Slot to restock for defenders in the market.
And any sale would be "pure profit" - meaning a healthy addition to the club's balance sheet. With around six clubs in for Quansah, if the Reds got £30m for him then it could be seen as a wise sale.
Verdict: SELL
Conor Bradley
The 21-year-old right-back has been groomed as a successor for Trent Alexander-Arnold and looks set to reign at Anfield for a decade. But there are a couple of issues to solve.
He's been suffering a Gerrard-like run of injuries - for those of you old enough to remember the struggles the legendary captain had as a young man breaking through for the Reds.
He needs to get fit and stay fit enough for Slot to rely on.
Secondly, his contract is expiring in 2027. He's not among Liverpool's best-paid players and - with an EFL title and a Premier League title to his name - he is moving among the elite.
It's going to take a big offer for him to renew. But if Liverpool truly see Bradley as Trent's homegrown heir, they haven't really got a choice.
Verdict: RENEW
Midfielders:
Wataru Endo
Virgil van Dijk has made an impassioned plea for the club to keep Endo, citing his leadership qualities. Slot has been effusive in his praise for the Japan international too but right now he is a luxury player.
At 32, on around £50k a week, Liverpool need more than what they are getting from a squad member like Endo.
Marseille were linked last summer and several other Premier League and Champions League teams would happily take him off Richard Hughes's hands.
If the Reds can make their money back on Endo - let's say £15m or so - then he should be sold. That means money to reinvest and Endo gets the minutes he needs ahead of the World Cup.
Verdict: SELL
Dominik Szoboszlai
Liverpool probably would like better numbers from the 24-year-old in terms of goals and assists. But the work he gets through means Mo Salah (and Trent for that matter) are freed up from certain defensive duties. If Liverpool were to replace him, they would need someone to take up those duties elsewhere. Szoboszlai is probably underrated in his team. And he is a vital cog in the wheel - even if he doesn't pull up any trees with his number of goals and assists.
Verdict: KEEP
Alexis Mac Allister
Real Madrid eh? They don't go away. No sooner have they practically landed Trent on a free and the familiar wooing campaign has begun for Alexis.
He has been clear that he is happy on Merseyside, even if the lure of the Bernabeu - and succeeding Luka Modric - is strong.
But Liverpool right now can't afford to do without him. One day he might follow Xabi Alonso and ask for a move to the Spanish capital but right now he is settled at a better team. No doubt, we'd rather Alexis than the €80m or so proposed for transferring him.
Verdict: KEEP
Curtis Jones
If reports are to be believed then Jones is one of the lowest-paid members of the current squad. His wage is estimated at £15k per week - ahead of only Kelleher and Bradley among the regulars in the pecking order.
With his deal running out in 2027 Richard Hughes has got a big decision to make. Liverpool could get £40m to £50m in the market for their homegrown talent but why would they want to?
He can cover several positions and has now made a decisive breakthrough to the England reckoning. Jones is destined for bigger and better achievements - and we would LOVE that to happen with the Reds.
Time to stump up the cash.
Verdict: RENEW
Elliott would like to stay but he's got big problems. One is Mo Salah - renewed until 2027 and the other is Dominik Szoboszlai. Each of those is ahead of him in his preferred positions and he doesn't really look like dislodging them any time soon.
Stripping emotion out of the decision, it's easy to see why Liverpool would consider selling the 22-year-old. They could get up to £50m for him and plenty of teams are interested.
Under contract until 2027, if the Reds were going to renew him they'd have to weigh up carefully whether he can become anything more than a bit-part player.
If they don't renew then his value is going to drop and fast. But he is a Liverpool fan and clearly lives and breathes the club. Difficult conversations ahead.
Verdict: SELL
Ryan Gravenberch
Well-settled at Liverpool following a difficult first season. The Dutchman has quite simply been a revelation. He's transformed from squad player without a home in the starting XI to an indispensable title-winning midfielder.
Liverpool need to support the 23-year-old with a quality deputy in the market. And despite the agent-driven links to Real Madrid, he is going nowhere.
Verdict: KEEP
Tyler Morton
Following a superb season on loan at Hull, it was expected that Morton would become a useful rotation option. In fact, before Gravenberch's emergence, there were even calls for regular starts. But it's been a season to forget for the 22-year-old.
First linked with a transfer away last summer - with plenty of teams in the Bundesliga interested - he was frozen out by Slot before suffering injury.
His Liverpool days look numbered and if the club get £20m for their homegrown midfielder this summer then he will be gone.
Verdict: SELL
Forwards:
Luis Diaz
You could make the argument either way here. Diaz has scored 16 goals in all competitions this season - behind only Cody Gakpo and Salah. He's improved his end product and even solved problems at No9.
In the cold light of day he probably deserves to earn more than his current £55k per week salary.
But how high can he climb? How much more is there to come?
Diaz would like a renewal but Hughes will have to measure those requests against Diaz's previous output and his age (28). He has two years left on his deal and Liverpool could probably fetch £70m to £80m for him if he was sold.
Another tricky conundrum for Hughes to solve.
In this case, given his streakiness in front of goal, we'd prefer to have the money than Diaz for another four years on £150k per week.
Verdict: SELL
This one is as straightforward as it comes. His Liverpool career looks all but over.
Nunez arrived in 2022 and was supposed to be the next big thing in Liverpool's attack. But he's had no great effect. The 25-year-old has scored only five league goals all season long and looks like a lost soul.
He would have been sold in January if either Al-Nassr or Al-Hilal had stumped up £75m but those efforts fell just short.
Liverpool need to make back some of the £85m they paid to Benfica for Nunez and he looks a certainty to depart - either to Atletico Madrid or Saudi Arabia.
Verdict: SELL
Liverpool rejected a £150m offer for Salah back in 2023 from Al-Ittihad, instead calculating that Salah's presence would be worth more than his sale. So it's proven, with Liverpool winning the league title and the Egyptian at the forefront of the campaign.
He's since renewed his deal until 2027, tying up his long-term future at Anfield. However, given the persistent Saudi interest, Liverpool will be keeping a close eye on his output.
If it starts to drop they might well consider selling him next summer - protected by another year on his contract. For now, he's going nowhere.
Verdict: KEEP
Federico Chiesa
Chiesa was Liverpool's permanent arrival last summer - coming in from Juventus for a fee that could reach £12m. But it's been a washout, really, with the 27-year-old featuring for only half an hour thus far in the Premier League.
There is interest being shown in him from Serie A and from Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce. If Liverpool can make their money back then Chiesa should go.
He is draining the club of £140k per week on wages and his squad place could be taken by Ben Doak instead.
Verdict: SELL
Cody Gakpo
There is more to come from the Dutchman, who has established himself as one of Arne Slot's most important players this season. At 25, he is peaking, with his compatriot getting far more out of the former PSV captain than Jurgen Klopp ever did.
Finally in possession of the left-wing berth he always craved, a fully-fit Gakpo should easily see off Diaz and others for a starting berth.
Verdict: KEEP
Another star name who's had a difficult season. Usually regarded as the Reds' best finisher, the stats actually don't bear that out any longer.
He's 28, injury prone and only has a contract until 2027. If Liverpool can get £40m to £50m then he should be sold. There isn't any better to come from the Portugal international, who looks set to be edged out by the club signing new strikers.
Verdict: SELL
Selected fringe and loan players:
Stefan Bajcetic
Will probably have a reprieve in summer - and could take Morton and Endo's place in the squad if they are sold. That would be an economical solution and allow spending elsewhere.
Verdict: KEEP
Ben Doak
A big summer looms for the currently-injured winger. If Chiesa goes then he could be promoted to Salah's deputy - as long as Rayan Cherki or Bryan Mbeumo aren't signed instead. But the temptation to cash in for around £30m must surely be strong.
Verdict: SELL
Jayden Danns
Seen as a potential first-team player by Arne Slot, he's provided a goal for the first team this season and featured in four competitions. But after an injury-disrupted campaign he needs to prove himself with senior football.
Verdict: LOAN
Rio Ngumoha
If Diaz is sold then Ngumoha could jump up the pecking order. A rare talent, it's time for him to mix it with the men. But one season getting used to the Championship - rather than being thrown in with the lions - might suit the teen sensation better.
Verdict: LOAN
READ MORE: Liverpool’s choice is CLEAR in Hugo Ekitike vs Benjamin Sesko transfer dilemma
Trey Nyoni
A midfield all-rounder could come in handy for Slot next season - especially if Morton, Elliott and Endo are sold.
Verdict: KEEP
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