Which players could be on their way out of Anfield this summer to make way for new signings…
SEE ALSO: Liverpool’s worst ever signings!
Brendan Rodgers is undertaking a complete makeover of his Liverpool squad this summer as he looks to prepare the Anfield club for a return to Champions League football. Here are a look at five players likely to be sacrificed:
Martin Skrtel
Martin Skrtel is a surprise target for Turkish giants Galatasaray, according to reports in the Metro.
The Slovakian was a main stay of Liverpool’s defence last season, playing 36 league games and scoring an impressive seven goals.
However, with Rodgers looking to sign Southampton’s Croatian centre-half Dejan Lovren, Skrtel could yet be tempted away by a big-money offer from abroad.
Daniel Agger
Liverpool’s defence was widely criticised last season, and Daniel Agger could be another of the resulting casualties.
Caught Offside reported yesterday that the Reds are desperate to offload the Dane, who is one of their biggest earners.
Barcelona were interested in Agger last summer, and could be tempted to go back in for the defender off the back of signing Luis Suarez.
Iago Aspas
The Liverpool striker was a huge disappointment last season after signing from Celta Vigo, managing just one goal – which came against Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup.
Press reports have linked Aspas with a return to Spain, specifically with Sevilla.
Liverpool have already signed Rickie Lambert as competition for first choice striker Daniel Sturridge, while Fabio Borini is set to return from a loan spell at Sunderland. Liverpool could make further additions following Suarez’s departure, leaving Aspas on the verge of an exit.
Pepe Reina
Pepe Reina is seemingly a man with no future at Anfield, and has been linked with a return to Napoli for a second season-long loan move.
Simon Mignolet has established himself as first choice at Liverpool, and Reina’s high wages mean that the Reds have little desire to keep him on their books.
Brendan Rodgers is thought to be eyeing up one of Guillermo Ochoa or Keylor Navas as a potential replacement to provide competition for their Belgian number one.
Lucas
Another Napoli-bound star could be midfielder Lucas, who might find first-team opportunities hard to come by next season with the arrivals of Adam Lallana and Emre Can.
Lucas could be convinced by former Reds manager Rafael Benitez who, according to the Mirror, is extremely keen on recruiting the Brazilian after missing out on Tottenham’s Sandro and Lyon’s Maxime Gonalons.
A fan-favourite, Lucas joined Liverpool in 2007 and has improved massively during his time at Anfield, but could became the latest departure under Brendan Rodgers if a sufficient bid is made.