In just over two weeks, a number of Liverpool’s soon-to-be-expired stars will have entered the final six months of their contracts and will be free to negotiate terms with foreign clubs..
Much has been said about Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita’s futures, with reports claiming that the Brazilian could be offered a new contract, while the Guinean, following an injury-plagued first half of the season, faces a make-or-break six months if he wants to stay at Anfield. Meanwhile, decisions on veterans James Milner and Adrian may be postponed until the summer.
However, it has been assumed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave on a Bosman transfer at the end of the season when his contract expires.
Anything else would be a surprise at this point.
During his six seasons at Anfield, the England international has been plagued by serious injuries. While he may have won every major award available with the Merseysiders, he has only made 137 appearances as a result.
And, like Adam Lallana before him, he has found the Liverpool side he has returned to to be a far more formidable prospect than the one he was torn away from. That is what signing players like Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara will accomplish.Jude Bellingham Of Borussia Dortmund “Has No Interest In Chelsea Transfer In truth, the Reds have simply outgrown him..
One of the reasons Oxlade-Chamberlain left Arsenal for Liverpool in 2017 was his desire to play as a central midfielder. Once he was familiar with Klopp’s wants and desires, he thrived in that role in his early days with Liverpool before suffering an ACL injury against Roma in the Champions League semi-finals.
Even when he returned to his peak as the Reds ended a 30-year drought as English champions, he drew attention in that role. However, a knee injury in the summer of 2020, followed by a hamstring injury in Liverpool’s most recent pre-season, have put him on the outside looking in..
As a result, he is now way down the pecking order in the Reds’ engine room, as evidenced by the fact that, even when injury-free last year, he didn’t play after the FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forest at the end of March.
However, Oxlade-Chamberlain can ensure that if this is indeed his final six months at Liverpool, he does not spend it as a spectator. His versatility, combined with the long-term injuries suffered by Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, ensures that the door will remain open for him in the coming weeks and months..
In the absence of the aforementioned wide forwards, it was the 29-year-turn old’s to start as a left-winger against Lyon before switching up front against AC Milan on Friday. He was the only change from the starting XI that faced the Ligue 1 side, and he was lively in his hour on the field.
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