Liverpool transfer news latest as club 'open door' to defender's exit, with Premier League move touted

Published: May 26 2025 | 12:24

Last updated: June 5 2025 | 00:48

Reds 'open door' for exit of defender with interest from Premier League club

Liverpool reportedly open up a pathway for a defender to leave the club in the summer amid interest from Premier League sides in his signature.

Liverpool have reportedly sanctioned Kostas Tsimikas's exit should an interested side pay in the region of £12-15m, with Leeds United linked to his signature.

The Reds lifted the Premier League title on Sunday after drawing 1-1 with Crystal Palace in their final game of the season, and boss Arne Slot managed to achieve top-flight glory despite making just one signing.

However, the club look set to strengthen considerably in the summer, with the likes of Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong all expected to arrive at Anfield in the transfer market.

Such an outlay would likely need a number of players to leave in order to make room in the squad, and that could lead to the departure of several fringe players.

Left-back Tsimikas has been linked with a move to newly-promoted Leeds, and Football Insider claims that the Reds' asking price of £12-15m is seen as affordable.

Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas pictured on October 23, 2024 © Imago

A new era of left-backs

Tsimikas has often found himself behind veteran Andrew Robertson in the pecking order, making just 35 Premier League starts in five seasons on Merseyside.

It is difficult to see the 29-year-old staying for a sixth campaign at the club, especially considering Liverpool have been credited with a strong interest Bournemouth left-back Kerkez.

The Cherries defender would almost certainly come into the starting XI, but his arrival could also signal the end of Robertson's time at the club.

Robertson has just one year remaining on his current deal, and if he was to be relegated to the bench, he may be hesitant to sign a new deal.

Liverpool's Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas pictured on February 23, 2025 © Imago

Who else could leave?

While Tsimikas is likely to leave, other fringe players such as Harvey Elliott and Darwin Nunez are expected to have admirers in the summer.

Attackers Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz have also been linked with moves away, and perhaps their exits could help fund Liverpool's acquisition of Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.

Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is behind Alisson Becker in Slot's plans, and the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili in the summer will only push him further from the first team.