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Liverpool confirm Firmino, Keita, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain exits
ESPN3 Minute Read
Klopp: Champions League absence won’t hurt Liverpool’s transfer pull
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool remain an attractive destination for players, even without Champions League football.
Liverpool have confirmed that the quartet of Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave the club when their contracts expire this summer.
All four will be out of contract on June 30 and able to leave on free transfers.
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“The quartet will each embark on new chapters in their careers following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, having helped the Reds lift a host of the game’s biggest honours during their spells at Anfield,” Liverpool said.
“The four all played their part in Jurgen Klopp’s side winning the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in 2019, before becoming the first Liverpool team to clinch the league title for 30 years as they racked up 99 points in 2019-20.
“Two more trophies were added to the collection amid a tilt at a quadruple last term, with success in the Carabao Cup and Emirates FA Cup at Wembley.”
Liverpool also announced that a special tribute would be made to the four during the club’s final home game of the season, against Aston Villa on Saturday.
“With the visit of Aston Villa on Saturday being the Reds’ final home fixture of the campaign, special acknowledgements will be paid to the quartet at Anfield, with further tributes to follow across the club’s digital platforms after the end of the season as we wish Roberto, Naby, James, Alex and their families the very best for the future,” the club added.
Sources told ESPN Brasil in March that Firmino had decided not to renew his contract, despite Klopp expressing his desire for the Brazilian forward to extend his deal earlier in the campaign.
Firmino, who joined Liverpool from German outfit Hoffenheim in a £29 million deal in 2015, is said to want a new challenge.
The departures of midfield trio Keita, Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain were widely anticipated ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer in the transfer market for the Merseyside club.
Liverpool have endured a disappointing season, though a run of seven successive wins has given them an outside chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. With two games to play, they sit fifth, a point behind Manchester United and Newcastle United though having played a game more.
