Liverpool may have to do the unthinkable and sell their most valuable asset this summer

Jurgen Klopp won’t be the only big man to leave Liverpool this summer as the German prepares to step down as manager.

With Arne Slot set to be named as his successor, transfer speculation is rife as to a number of players the Dutchman will inherit.

Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara and Adrian are all likely to leave the club at the end of their contracts, but there are likely to be other exits as Slot begins to make Liverpool’s squad.

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With question marks hanging over the heads of a number of key players, be it rumored interest from elsewhere or an expiring contract, our writers debate which player they would cash in on if they were the ones to play at Anfield. .

Liverpool could sell their most valuable player

Paul Gorst: There is plenty of merit in the idea that this is a great time to snap up Caoimhin Kelleher this summer. The keeper has proven to be a reliable, unwavering keeper in the absence of Alisson Becker and would certainly be an asset elsewhere in the Premier League.

However, the Irishman may not raise a significant amount of capital. Luis Diaz, on the other hand, could do just that. With Paris Saint-Germain set to be in the market for a left-footed forward with Kylian Mbappe’s expected move to Real Madrid, the Ligue 1 side could do worse than follow up on their reported interest in the Colombian winger.

For Liverpool, Diaz never gives more than 100% and was one of the few bright spots in an abject April. That said, the former Porto player could command a hefty sum that could be used to fuel Arne Slot’s summer rebrand at Anfield.

According to respected website Transfermarkt, Diaz is Liverpool’s most valuable player alongside Dominik Szoboszlai, and while he has enjoyed a good campaign overall, an offer near his apparent £70m value could be too much hard to resist considering upgrades could be removed. there for the tomatoes.

You can’t turn a blind eye to Saudi money for Salah

Theo Squires: You can go through many of the players in the current Liverpool squad and wonder if they will have a long-term future at Anfield under Arne Slot.

The time has certainly come, albeit reluctantly, for Caoimhin Kelleher to move on and become a first-choice goalkeeper elsewhere, while Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara are certain to leave at the end of their contracts. Speculation over Luis Diaz refuses to die down, while there will be uncertainty surrounding Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold as long as their contracts remain unextended.

Darwin Nunez’s recent struggles have also prompted debate over his place at Liverpool, although it seems distasteful to write him off and cash in so soon.

If it is understood that Salah will not sign a new contract, it would make sense for the Reds to move him this summer. If the big-money interest from Saudi Arabia remains, Liverpool chiefs cannot turn their noses up at it – even if stories of the Egyptian’s decline in recent weeks have been exaggerated.

But if Salah doesn’t want to move on and wants to be part of Slot’s squad, with the Reds confident he will remain as effective and consistent as ever over the next two seasons, then Diaz is likely a player they would look to move on. instead.

The Colombian has remained in solid form as others have faltered recently, but he simply isn’t as effective in front of goal as some of his peers. Now 27, he is at his peak and this represents Liverpool’s best chance to bank maximum profit for the winger.

If it weren’t for the usual speculation linking him to a move and frequent audio from his father flirting with a move, it probably wouldn’t be a notion viewers would consider at this point. But with Diaz likely to have an eye on his next move, then the Reds should be prepared to move him on their terms.

Do the unthinkable and cut your losses on Jota

Joe Rimmer: Selling Caoimhin Kelleher might seem like the easy way to make a quick buck for Liverpool this summer, but perhaps his future isn’t as uncertain as some might think.

Alisson, unfortunately, is injury prone and Kelleher has proven to be a reliable alternative. If he does leave, the fee could be lower, with a buy-back clause inserted to protect Liverpool’s future interests.

But if the Reds really want to raise some money, I’d suggest they do it by considering the unthinkable and selling one of Liverpool’s most popular players.

And it’s not Luis Diaz.

Instead, I would be tempted to cash in on Diogo Jota if a suitable suitor could be persuaded to pay big money. The Portuguese is undoubtedly an excellent player, but his injury record is such that Liverpool simply cannot rely on him for long periods of the season.

The opposite is true for Diaz, whose availability is a huge asset to a team suffering far too many injuries as it is.

Both players are the same age and it would be nice to see Liverpool spend without having to sell, but if they need to raise funds I’d cut my losses on someone who misses far too many games – no matter how good he is him, or how catchy that song can be.