While we revel in the news of all the players the club are recruiting for next year, moves are still being made for transfers out of the club as well. Trent Alexander-Arnold was the first to go, but other names have been linked with moves away, such as Darwin Núñez.
A new name to add to the list is beloved left-back Andy Robertson. The Scotland captain, whose deal £8m acquisition from Hull City remains one of the club’s best transfer deals of the last decade, is apparently being eyed by La Liga greats Atletico Madrid.
The Reds are close to agreeing to a move for Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth. The additional competition might be what’s fueling Atleti’s sudden interest. Robertson is also nearing the end of his current contract with the club, so unless they want to lose him on a free like his longtime partner Alexander-Arnold, they either need to extend his contract or sell him when they still have some leverage.
About his future, Robertson said, “We’ve had good discussions, me and the club, but what the future holds, I’m not sure,” said Robertson. “I can’t look too far ahead, I never have done that so I’m not going to start doing that now. I know the position I’m in, I know I’ve only got a year left.
“The players that we’re linked with are all younger players and they’re all exciting players as well. So when you play for a big club like Liverpool, you expect challenges, you expect to have competition. I’ve always faced that and so has everyone in their own positions.”
That open-ended response has led to speculation that Robertson is open to a move away after eight seasons with the club.
No approach has been made by Atletico, but the experienced defender is said to be a main target for the La Liga outfit who is looking to strengthen their back line.
If Robertson goes along with Alexander-Arnold, it will truly feel like the end of an era. The synergy between the two on opposites sides of the pitch had been a key element of Jürgen Klopp’s preferred style of play. A defensive line without those two first choice anchors will be something Liverpool fans haven’t seen in nearly a decade.