Five Liverpool stars were linked with an exit this summer but ultimately ended up staying with the club
Alexis Mac Allister revealed that he was sad about not having received a contract offer.
Alexis Mac Allister revealed that he was sad about not having received a contract offer(Image: Liverpool)
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Much has been made of Liverpool's new signings this summer and those who left. But what about those who were on the cusp of leaving the club, only to end up staying at Anfield?
Andoni Iraola has begun to stamp his mark on his Liverpool squad, at the expense of some stars. The likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa were all linked with exits.
Their futures have looked uncertain as the Basque manager has begun to shape his team as he sees fit. Yet their moves never came to fruition.
Here, the ECHO takes a look at five Liverpool stars who could've sought pastures new this summer, only to remain. We ponder whether they could end up regretting their choice to stay at L4 this season.
Alexis Mac Allister
Mac Allister looks to have banished his poor form of last season under Iraola. He has featured in every game so far this season, scoring a stunner in the Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
The Argentinian World Cup-winner was linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer. His comments at a press conference this week, that he was saddened not to have been offered a new deal with the club, have stoked speculation that he could leave in the near future with his contract expiring in the summer of 2028.
Alexis Mac Allister celebrates
Alexis Mac Allister won the match for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid(Image: Getty Images)
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Will Mac Allister regret his decision to stay this summer? His current performances wouldn't suggest so. However, he has started just two games so far, with the rest of his minutes coming from substitute appearances.
With no signs of a new deal thus far, and a starting berth not guaranteed, the 27-year-old could be on the lookout for a new club from January onwards and possibly regretting his call to stay at the Reds if it ends up being another frustrating campaign on the fringes for him.
Wataru Endo
Endo is now fit after a long-term lay-off that saw him miss this summer's World Cup. The 2023 £16million signing from Stuttgart has been an unused substitute for all three Premier League games so far, however.
Iraola’s stance on the Japanese international has been made clear with the naming of his Champions League squad. The 33-year-old was left out of the 25-man Liverpool group for the league phase, with Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike, who are all injured, selected ahead of him.
Wataru Endo during Liverpool's defeat to AS Monaco at Anfield
Wataru Endo during Liverpool's defeat to AS Monaco at Anfield (Image: Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
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Endo barely made a Premier League start as the title was won under Arne Slot in 2024/2025. Last season, his minutes were limited by two separate injury setbacks.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher even claimed Endo will "never" play for the club as the likes of Wolves and Fulham showed interest in the midfielder this summer. With little optimism he gets to make an impact this season, partly due to the Reds’ options in the middle, Endo could well rue his decision to stay.
Giorgi Mamardashvili
The Georgian shot-stopper has not featured in a game so far this season - not a huge shock given he's Alisson Becker's understudy. The 25-year-old's future at the Reds was thrown into doubt this summer, though.
Liverpool paid £30m to Genk for goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans in the transfer window, with the youngster staying in Belgium for the season ahead. However, the teenager only remained with Genk because Mamardashvili failed to move to Nottingham Forest.
Giorgi Mamardashvili in action for Liverpool during a preseason friendly
Giorgi Mamardashvili is battling to become Liverpool's No.1 goalkeeper(Image: Photo by Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
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Transfer talk even being uttered in the vicinity of the keeper this summer, coupled with the Reds' move for Brughmans, might suggest Mamardashvili's stay at Anfield could be cut short in the near future.
He has played more than he might have expected so far, given Alisson's injury troubles. The keeper made 20 appearances in total last term under Slot, but has failed to convince many he's the man to succeed the Brazilian since he signed from Valencia for £25m in 2024.
If he's to leave next summer once Brughmans comes aboard, Mamardashvili may be wishing he departed this season to get ahead of the inevitable, instead of spending a year on the bench at a club that sees no future for him.
Federico Chiesa
Chiesa has found it incredibly tough to establish himself at Liverpool since his move from Juventus two seasons ago. He has missed the first three Premier League games of this campaign with a lower back injury, but is expected to return later this month.
However, like Endo, he has been left out of the Reds' squad for the Champions League league phase. It's the second year in a row he has missed out.
Federico Chiesa of Liverpool during the during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco
Federico Chiesa has been out of action for Liverpool with an injury(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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However, the 28-year-old was drafted back in last season after Leoni suffered a devastating knee injury on his debut.
Chiesa featured 36 times, scoring three goals last season but the 28-year-old was linked with moves to Serie A and Turkey this summer. His lack of action so far could be making the Italian wonder why he wanted to stay at the Reds this season.
Kostas Tsimikas
The Greek full-back spent last season on loan at Roma, where he played 25 times, and it looked like his Liverpool career had come to an end. However, fast-forward four games into the new campaign, and the left-back has made two bit-part appearances.
Despite all odds suggesting he would’ve moved on this summer, Tsimikas, 30, played 19 minutes against Forest and two minutes in the Champions League victory over Atleti.
Kostas Tsimikas
Kostas Tsimikas spent last season on loan at Roma(Image: Michael Campanella/Getty Images)
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Is it enough action to keep the Greek international content at the Reds? It's hard to say so far. Tsimikas' Anfield contract runs out next summer but he said upon his return from Roma this summer that he was happy to be back at Liverpool.
Liverpool are light in cover for Milos Kerkez at left-back, too, meaning Tsimikas will most likely get more minutes this season. He was linked with moves to Juventus and Olympiacos this summer and his departure looks all but certain upon the expiry of his Liverpool deal in 2027.
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