Dave Davis discusses who Liverpool should sending packing with Jürgen Klopp alluding to the fact that there are too many players in the squad.
In a world where someone believes John Stones is worth £50 million and you can buy a goalkeeper for £1 (Bradford activated Blackpool’s Colin Doyle’s release clause) transfer fees lack all semblance of clarity and common sense.
On the back of signing a new 6-year deal, Jürgen Klopp made it clear that player-wise Liverpool has “100% too much”. How much he can fetch for anyone he deems surplus to requires at Anfield, there’s no exact science for calculating but it’s the season for speculation.
There are four players who seem nailed on to be leaving and due to speculation appear the easiest fees to predict – Jordon Ibe, Christian Benteke, Sergio Canos and Martin Skrtel. Ibe has seen a £15 million bid from Bournemouth accepted and will now be mulling over his options.
Liverpool look set to receive £12.75 million if the deal goes through as Ibe’s former club Wycombe are entitled to 15% of the fee. Belgian striker, Benteke is rumoured to be in London ahead of a £31.5 million move to Crystal Palace. There’s plenty of speculation around how much money will be paid upfront and clauses, but either way this seems a solid return after an unsuccessful year.
Spanish winger Canos has seen two separate £2.5 million bids from Norwich and Bristol City respectively accepted for his services after £10,000 a week demands halted contract talks. If rumours are to be believed the club has wisely inserted a buy back clause into the deal. After his friend allegedly referred to Klopp in a derogatory manner and the second half disaster against Southampton last season, Skrtel finally looks destined to leave Anfield and join Fenerbache in a £5 million deal. With Joel Matip coming in and Sakho returning my this one was a no-brainer.
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One player who earned an extended summer break is Joe Allen, after his exploits with the Welsh team at Euro 2016. After Swansea had an £8 million bid turned down, the price may now reach the £14 million mark with Sevilla rumoured to be interested. With the likes of Mahmoud Dahoud being ‘aggressively pursued‘ and other such as Rubén Neves linked, Allen may also find himself joined in the departure lounge by Lucas. The former Gremio midfielder may find himself ‘unluckeeeee’ if any club stumps up £5 million with Besiktas again linked. It’s hard to see either getting serious game time in a season without European competition.
Of those players not linked with a specific club, Adam Bogdan and Lazar Markovic should be the most concerned for their Anfield futures. Liverpool may well adopt a similar approach to Balotelli with Bogdan and look for a suitor or a pay off. Whilst Markovic looks to be given a chance in pre-season by Klopp, there appears to be 7 players ahead of him in the queue for the front four positions and a bid around the £10 million mark may well see Liverpool do business.
Add this to the small development fees for Joao Texeira and Jordan Rossiter, plus the £4 million received from Watford for Jerome Sinclair and Liverpool may well accumulate over £80 million. The great Anfield sale is now on!