Liverpool won’t be dipping into the transfer market in January for short-term solutions, as per manager Jurgen Klopp. Meanwhile, the Reds could witness a few outgoings of their own, with centre-back Nat Phillips one of the players expected to leave the club.
Klopp will be without Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Naby Keita at the start of the next year should the proposed African Cup of Nations go ahead as planned. However, the Liverpool boss has ruled out dipping into the winter market for replacements and will rely upon the options already at his disposal instead.
“I am happy with the squad and we still have options,”
“Can you be prepared for something like that, properly, perfectly? Like a one-for-one replacement for Sadio, a replacement for Mo, one replacement for Naby? That’s tricky in each situation.”
the German stated.
The AFCON is scheduled to take place from January 9 to February 6, 2022, coinciding with the regular European football calendar. As such, Salah, Mane, and Keita could miss between two to four games for Liverpool, depending on their national team’s performance in the competition.
No new incomings then, but Anfield could witness a few outgoings. One of the players looking to leave the club in search of better playing opportunities next year is academy graduate Nat Phillips. The defender confirmed that he will be open to offers in January after barely featuring for the Reds this season.
“I’m going to see what comes along and go from there,”
“I think at this moment in time it’s unlikely that I’ll be playing lots of games for Liverpool, so if an opportunity arises where I get the chance to do that somewhere else and it suits everyone then it’s certainly something I’d be interested in.”
he told Sky Sports.
The 24-year-old made 20 appearances for the Reds during the second half of the previous season amid a club-wide injury crisis. However, his influence has waned since the return of Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip, and Joe Gomez, as well as the arrival of Ibrahima Konate, resulting in him making just three appearances – and one start – this season.
