An Anfield Exodus: Who looks set to be on their way out of Liverpool this summer?

Crashing out of the Champions League last week following a 6-2 aggregate defeat at the hands of Spanish giants Real Madrid, Liverpool have found themselves under a huge amount of scrutiny this season.

While Jurgen Klopp’s side might have claimed a famous 7-0 romp against historic rivals Manchester United on March 5th, the former Premier League champions have continued to show a string of glaring issues on either side of the World Cup’s winter break.

Not seen again until they travel to Manchester City on April 1st, the ex-Borussia Dortmund boss knows that his side faces a huge uphill struggle if they’re to claim a crucial top-four finish come May.

Last seen on domestic duties getting hit with a shock 1-0 loss against relegation scrappers Bournemouth, it is no secret that both Klopp and Liverpool are planning a major squad overhaul this summer.

Failing to replace former attacking talisman Sadio Mane since the Senegalese star made the move to Bayern Munich last year, fans around Anfield are also expecting a complete midfield overhaul when the window reopens.

While Liverpool might remain heavily linked with a move for 19-year-old sensation Jude Bellingham, we have taken a look at a few first-team stars who look set to be on their way out of Merseyside this summer.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

While Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain might have made a brief cameo appearance in Liverpool’s 1-0 loss at the Bernabeu last week, it appears almost certain that the 29-year-old will be heading for the Anfield exit this summer.

Although Liverpool might have been dealing with some public midfield struggles this year, the former Arsenal star has once again failed to cement his place in Klopp’s first-team plans.

Only continuing on an injury nightmare since arriving on Merseyside back in 2018, there are no signs that Oxlade-Chamberlain will be putting pen to paper on a new deal this season.

Now entering the final few months of his current deal at Anfield, it appears that both parties have accepted that the 35-cap England international will be allowed to leave on a free transfer.

Mustering just 12 appearances across all competitions after dealing with an extended hamstring issue, Oxlade-Chamberlain still has plenty of admirers and could still be staying put in the Premier League.

Only mustering 11 top-flight strikes during his six-year stay at Anfield, Football Insider reported over the weekend that both Brighton and Leicester have already expressed an interest.

Naby Keita

While many fans on Merseyside might have been excited by Naby Keita’s arrival back in 2018, it is fair to say that the former RB Leipzig midfielder has largely failed to live up to his £48million price tag.

Also entering the final few months of his current deal at Anfield, the 28-year-old almost finds himself in an identical position to Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Once again dealing with a host of injury issues on either side of the World Cup break, Keita has mustered just eight Premier League appearances so far this season and has quickly fallen down Klopp’s pecking order.

An unused substitute when Liverpool made the trip out to Real Madrid last week, the Guinea international has also completed 90 minutes across any competition just once this season.

With Keita expected to be one of the main departures as Klopp plans a midfield overhaul ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, there are plenty of European heavyweights who are keeping tabs on a potential free switch thus summer.

Along with links to Italian heavyweights Inter Milan, The Daily Mail also reported earlier in the month that Borussia Dortmund are keeping tabs on proceedings.

Joel Matip

While Joel Matip might have played a crucial role as Liverpool reached the Champions League final last season, the one-time Schalke star has endured a hugely testing campaign on Merseyside this time around.

Although many might have expected Matip to be the first-choice partner for Virgil van Dijk this year, the 31-year-old has put in a string of worrying performances and has found himself out of Klopp’s starting XI over the past few weeks.

Not featuring in any of Liverpool’s final four appearances before heading into the international break, Matip has also managed to make just a single start since a 2-0 victory against local rivals Everton on February 13th.

Now finding himself sat behind the likes of Joe Gomes and Ibrahima Konate, Matip is soon to enter the final year of his deal at Anfield and it has been suggested that Liverpool could be looking to cash in on the Champions League-winner when the window reopens.

With Klopp looking to take Liverpool in a more youthful direction this summer as he continues on a bid to bring Bellingham back to England, it appears that the ex-Borussia Dortmund ace is already eyeing up potential replacements.

The Daily Mail reported earlier in the month that Klopp is keen on striking a deal for RB Leipzig’s defensive talisman Josko Gvardiol.