Anfield Watch
·14 November 2024
Anfield Watch
·14 November 2024
Liverpool could be set to lose three of their senior players next summer with considerable uncertainty surrounding the futures of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.
That is a lot of experience being hollowed out of Arne Slot’s squad all at once, leaving gaps in the Reds’ leadership group. It promises to be a summer of upheaval elsewhere in the squad too with Giorgi Mamardashvili coming into the club once his loan with Valencia expires.
The Georgia international has made it clear he does not intend to come to Anfield in order to play second fiddle and it has already ruffled the feathers of Caoimhin Kelleher.
The Irishman has played plenty of first-team football this season owing to the injury suffered by Alisson but it is likely he will be leaving in order to accommodate Mamardashvili next summer.
© IMAGO - giorgi mamardashvili
That leaves the long-term future of Alisson under scrutiny, given his recent injuries, the fact he’s now 32 and the level of interest shown in him by clubs in Saudi Arabia.
And now a prominent Liverpool journalist has admitted that the Reds’ ‘succession planning’ in goal could see Alisson squeezed out of the club before his contract expires.
The Brazilian is under contract on Merseyside until 2026 with an option until 2027 but James Pearce now believes that departure date could be brought forward.
© IMAGO - Alisson Caoimhin Kelleher Liverpool 2024-25
“The question is when will Alisson leave?” Pearce said in his Mailbag for the Athletic.
“He is only 32 and said after Liverpool agreed the deal with Valencia for Giorgi Mamardashvili that he intends to see out the rest of his contract, which runs until 2026 (the club have the option of a further 12 months).
“Succession planning led Liverpool to the signing of Mamardashvili. They felt he was underpriced at £25million and that it represented a shrewd long-term investment.
“There must be a chance that Alisson brings forward his departure date given the persistent interest in him from Saudi Arabian clubs, but when you look at how Vitezslav Jaros performed on his first Liverpool start against Brighton recently, the goalkeeping department is in decent shape.”