CalcioMercato claim that Liverpool have placed trio Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Nat Phillips on the transfer list ahead of the January transfer window – with Oxlade-Chamberlain and Keita both out of contract in June.
The Reds find themselves in a difficult position in the Premier League, having lost their last two games. Defeats to Leeds and Nottingham Forest sees their chances of posing a title challenge thrown out the window. Top four is the aim.
It might be that in the January window, they look to bring in reinforcements. But in order to do that, they may need to sell first. The Reds do have a number of players on big pay cheques, that can be sold to free up cash – and wages.
Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain have been injured for much of the season. The midfield duo find themselves out of contract at the end of the season. Meanwhile, defender Phillips has only been afforded one senior outing this term.
Keita being made available for a January transfer will prick the ears of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham. 90Min say the trio of Premier League heavyweights are all showing interest in the Guinea international, ahead of the January window.
Liverpool have placed trio on transfer list ahead of January
Ultimately, Liverpool have little other option. Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain do not deserve a new contract and keeping them until the summer would see them pay another six months of wages. They could still get a small fee.
So, selling them for cut-price figures in January at least saves them spending wages on the duo – and letting them go for nothing. For Phillips, the situation is different. He has a contract until June 2025, and still provides cover.
If Liverpool’s price tag, likely to be between £10million and £15million, is met, then he will go. But until then, the Reds are under no pressure to sell the ex-Bolton and Stuttgart centre-back.
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