Liverpool transfer news: Anfield chiefs sense Joel Matip stance on exit

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Liverpool are growing increasingly accepting of the prospect that Joel Matip leaves Anfield in the next transfer window. The defender has fallen out of favour after an injury-hit term.

That is according to Goal, which reports whispers coming out of Anfield hint that Matip will look to leave Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp is likely to field Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as his first-choice pairing going forward. While Joe Gomez just signed a new contract last July.

Liverpool are unlikely to consider offers for Gomez as the centre-back counts toward their homegrown quota. But Matip has an uncertain future on Merseyside as the Cameroonian is out of contract in 2024. He has not extended his deal with the Reds since October 2019.

Klopp made Matip the second arrival of his time at Liverpool after agreeing to a pre-contract in February 2016. The 31-year-old moved to Merseyside as a free agent that summer after letting his deal with Schalke end. But the growing sense at Anfield is now that he will leave.

Reds chiefs will find it hard to turn down appropriate offers for the £140k-a-week enforcer with his contract winding down. He has also suffered yet another injury-ravished season so far this term. Matip has started just six of his eight Premier League outings from 10 games.

Injuries have often been a part of Matip’s game since his free transfer to Liverpool

Klopp has been without Matip during nine of Liverpool’s 19 Premier League matches so far this season. The 27-cap defender sat out three of the Reds’ opening four fixtures in August with a groin issue. He also later sat out six during October and November with a calf strain.

Injuries have been a regular part of Matip’s game with Liverpool. They have also restricted the Bochum, Germany-born enforcer to 180 appearances across all competitions since his Bosman transfer in 2016. He had registered 258 outings for Schalke’s first-team from 2009.

Last season seemed to be a turning point for Matip as he featured in 31 of Liverpool’s top-flight matches. But this term has seen yet further issues for the 6 ft 4 star, whom Michael Dawson called ‘magnificent’ after the Reds’ Champions League tie with Ajax in September.