Harvey Elliott of Liverpool looks on, as he and teammates Kostas Tsimikas and Jarell Quansah inspects the pitch prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Liverpool FC at London Stadium on December 29, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)placeholder image
Harvey Elliott of Liverpool looks on, as he and teammates Kostas Tsimikas and Jarell Quansah inspects the pitch prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Liverpool FC at London Stadium on December 29, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas is currently on loan at Italian outfit AS Roma.
AS Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini has suggested that he is not 'convinced' about all three of his Premier League loan players - including Kostas Tsimikas.
The left-back joined the Italian side from the Reds in August. Tsimikas was part of Liverpool's Premier League title-winning squad but started only nine games along the way and was very much second choice to Andy Robertson.
And with Arne Slot's side signing Milos Kerkez for £40 million, Tsimikas was surplus to requirements and joined Roma to get more regular action. However, that has not proven to be the case in the Eternal City. Tsimikas has made 11 appearances in all competitions and started only three Serie A games.
He was an unused substitute in a 2-1 loss to Juventus, which left the Stadio Olimpico outfit fourth in the table amid an intriguing title race.
Roma also have Evan Ferguson and Leon Bailey on loan from Brighton and Aston Villa, respectively. Ferguson's spell as Roma has come under particular scrutiny, with Gasperini curtly saying on the Republic of Ireland striker's performance against Juventus (via The Guardian): "I am not convinced." But Gasperini also suggested his frustrations with Tsimikas and Bailey as he added: “It’s not just him."
According to Italian newspaperGazetta dello Sport, Tsimikas has 'performed poorly' and it's why he has scarcely been used in recent months. The Greece international has fallen behind Angelino and Devyne Rensch in the left-back pecking order. It is claimed that Gasperini 'would gladly do without' Tsimikas and that he is 'certainly on his way out' but the ball is in Liverpool's court.
It remains unclear if there is a break clause in the loan deal for Roma to end it. If there isn't one, Liverpool, would have to guarantee that Tsimikas has another loan lined up on similar terms before agreeing to terminate the current agreement.
Tsimikas is out of contract at the Reds in 2027. Speaking on potentially playing for Liverpool again, having won four major trophies since his arrival from Olympiacos in 2020, he told The Athletic: “You never know. “The most important thing for me is to be healthy, to train hard, to play more games. Next year is a different story for me. I want to be successful, I want to win things. Only God knows what will happen in the next year.
“I miss the city. I lived there for five years. I love everything in Liverpool. They have a special part of my heart. The people are very kind, some of the kindest I’ve ever met in football. They’d always try to support the team, in good, in bad, they would always do their best to try to help you. I want everything for this club, because from day one, I was fully committed there. I was the Greek Scouser and I always will be, I’ll keep it for my whole life.”
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