When looking at Arne Slot's Liverpool tenure, it can be divided into two distinct parts.
The Dutchman's first and second seasons at the Anfield helm have wildly contrasted. Last season's title-winning success is a world away from 2025/26, with segments of the Anfield fanbase calling for his head and the battle being contested with those hoping for Champions League football, not the big prize at the top of the
Premier League.
arne-slot-liverpool-forest
After last summer's record-breaking summer spending spree, this isn't good enough, and FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes will need to dig back into the market
Who FSG must sell this summer
Federico Chiesa is one of the most popular first-team players at Liverpool, and his popularity has only been strengthened by Slot's reluctance to hand him minutes in the Premier League or Champions League.
Liverpool's Federico Chiesa
But the Dutchman may have been right, to be honest, with Chiesa suffering a number of disappointing performances this season. He is a potent attacking threat, but his overall play leaves something to be desired.
Chiesa has been linked with a return to Italy over the past year, and while he was barred from leaving last summer, the powers that be citing a lack of depth that would be exposed by his exit, it doesn't feel like the 27-year-old will play for the Anfield side next term.
There are other, more contentious, decisions to be made. Mohamed Salah, for one, has been pretty poor this season as he enters the autumn of his illustrious career at the top. Liverpool may need to sign an upgrade, especially with Chiesa leaving too.
Andy Robertson is another whose physical prime is behind him, but he will go at the end of his contract. However, there's another full-back who sporting director Richard Hughes should consider selling.
FSG must sell forgotten Liverpool star
Change is afoot once again at Liverpool. In defence, FSG are going to ring the changes. Giovanni Leoni is going to feel like a new signing next year, and Jeremy Jacquet will arrive at the club after a £60m deal was agreed with Rennes in January.
However, Ibrahima Konate and Robertson could both leave when their contracts expire, and forgotten man Kostas Tsimikas should join them.
tsimikas-liverpool
Greek international Tsimikas has been at Liverpool since joining from Olympiakos in 2020, he played 115 times across all competitions, assisting 18 goals, and provided cover for Robertson before leaving last summer and joining Roma in Serie A on loan.
Tsimikas will enter the final year of his Liverpool deal next season, but FSG might want to consider selling him and pushing for a new understudy at left-back, with Tsimikas leaving something to be desired during those final years in Liverpool's first team.
Tsimikas' Liverpool Career by Season (Prem)
Season
24/15
23/24
22/23
21/22
20/21
There's certainly a case to be made for Tsimikas actually staying put and serving as Kerkez's understudy, but the plain truth of it is that the 29-year-old has long looked like a weak link in Liverpool's backline, and the cover he would provide would not leave supporters (or Slot) satisfied.
After all, it was Liverpool's head coach who decided to work with Hughes and bring a new, flashy full-back to the fold, keeping Robertson for his experience. There was no room for Tsimikas, and to reintegrate him next year would be a backwards move.
He would leave with a whole host of memories and a trophy cabinet rich with silverware, but that doesn't mean he should be welcomed back and given an important role next year.
There has been a recurring conversation for a while now concerning the strength of Liverpool's wider senior squad. In that, FSG need to make this an impactful summer transfer window, and part of that is ensuring players such as Chiesa and Tsimikas are shipped on.
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