The Hard Tackle lists five players Liverpool should sell during the summer transfer window as they begin their rebuild after a frustrating 2025/26 season.
Liverpool’s 2025/26 season will be remembered as a calamity of unprecedented proportions at Anfield. The Merseyside club’s Premier League title defence fell apart spectacularly, as they limped to a fifth-placed finish while ending the season without a trophy, not even lifting the Community Shield.
After coming into the season with much promise following their Premier League title victory the previous season, Arne Slot’s tactical vulnerabilities exposed the team repeatedly, with ageing legs contributing significantly to their downfall. The season was littered with disaster after disaster. Liverpool’s pitiful title defence was exacerbated by a mediocre UEFA Champions League campaign and embarrassing domestic cup exits.
The Reds suffered humiliating defeats, including a 10-1 thrashing over three games to Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, and PSV Eindhoven midway through the campaign, the latter two at Anfield, which plunged the entire football club into crisis. On 30 May 2026, after the fifth-place league finish and no silverware, the club announced that head coach Arne Slot had departed his role with immediate effect.
Slot is no longer at the club, with Andoni Iraola being appointed as the new head coach. Before Iraola gets into the groove of his new project at Anfield, getting rid of deadweight at the onset of the summer transfer window is imperative. The Spanish tactician needs a squad that fits his tactical vision, and several players have become surplus to requirements. Here are the five players Liverpool must sell this summer to reset successfully.
Joe Gomez
Joe Gomez’s situation at Liverpool has become increasingly untenable. The versatile defender has suffered from persistent fitness issues throughout his Anfield spell, which has severely undermined his reliability as a regular starter. These recurring injury problems have left him on the periphery of their planned squad structure.
The Englishman has emerged as a genuine target for AC Milan, with the Serie A giants pushing for his signature for a long time. Other clubs have also shown interest in Gomez, including Crystal Palace. With only 274 appearances and mere one assist across his Liverpool career, combined with his fitness concerns, the 29-year-old represents a player who has outgrown his utility at Anfield. A sale to AC Milan would provide Liverpool with valuable funds while allowing Gomez to revitalise his career in Serie A.
Calvin Ramsay
Calvin Ramsay’s future at Liverpool has been called into question repeatedly, and the decision to sell him this summer appears inevitable. The 22-year-old has got no future at Anfield, according to reliable reports. The right-back has been crowded out of a spot as a regular, managing only four appearances thus far for the Merseyside club.
With Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong being the preferred right-back options and Milos Kerkez occupying a similar stature on the left wing, Ramsay has become irredeemably surplus to requirements. His limited game time combined with his contract situation makes a summer sale the most logical outcome. This departure will free up squad space and wages for Iraola to bring in players who fit his tactical system more appropriately.
Wataru Endo
Wataru Endo’s position at Liverpool has become increasingly precarious following a challenging 2025/26 season. The Japanese midfielder has been plagued by fitness issues, including an ankle injury that required weeks of rehabilitation. To make matters worse for him, the injuries have forced him to call time on his international career.
His playing time was catastrophically limited throughout the 2025/26 campaign, accumulating only 455 minutes of action in all competitions. Endo has earned himself a reputation of being a ‘closer’ under Arne Slot, but this season has proven challenging in terms of playing time.
The veteran midfielder has already admitted “I’m Not Satisfied” with his game time, acknowledging the tough situation. With younger midfielders like Florian Wirtz, Ryan Gravenberch, and Curtis Jones offering more dynamism, Endo’s departure makes strategic sense for Liverpool’s future.
Stefan Bajcetic
Stefan Bajcetic’s injury history has become a defining characteristic of his Liverpool career, and his future at Anfield seems far from certain. The Spaniard did not play in the 2025/26 season, and the situation has become untenable. This marked the beginning of his subsequent fitness challenges, and after returning at the start of the 2023/24 season, he sustained a calf injury just six weeks in.
The 21-year-old seemingly has no way back at Anfield, and his consistent fitness problems make him a liability for Andoni Iraola’s system despite the undeniable talent. Being crowded out of a spot as a regular, with players like Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, and Curtis Jones establishing themselves as regulars, the youngster must leave to save his career.
Cody Gakpo
Cody Gakpo has been an inconsistent performer for Liverpool and struggled with poor form throughout the 2025/26 season, making his departure increasingly sensible. The Dutch attacker finished the season with just nine goals across all competitions, a disappointing return for a player who has made 180 appearances and scored 50 goals for the Merseyside club.
His inconsistency has made him a predictable bottleneck in Liverpool’s attacking structure. Gakpo is the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur, with the North London club preparing to bolster their offensive unit by signing a versatile attacker.
Despite extending his contract until 2030 in September 2025, Gakpo’s poor form and inconsistency make him a necessary surplus to Iraola’s requirements. Selling the Dutchman to Tottenham will provide Liverpool with exceptional funds to reinvest in players who fit Andoni Iraola’s tactical vision more appropriately.
Honourable Mentions
Alexis Mac Allister experienced a notable drop in performance levels during the 2025/26 season, despite being a key player throughout. Real Madrid are reportedly considering a renewed pursuit of the Argentine midfielder for a potential transfer. His deteriorating form combined with genuine Real Madrid interest makes him a potential sale.
Federico Chiesa has confirmed his intention to seek showdown talks with Andoni Iraola following a frustrating spell at Liverpool that saw him marginalised. The Italian international has struggled for consistent game time, finishing the season with just 726 minutes of action across all competitions. Chiesa has expressed his concerns about lacking consistency in the Premier League, and a summer exit is likely.
Virgil van Dijk represents a left-of-centre suggestion based on his advancing age and dropping performance levels. At 34, the captain has faced fresh criticism from Pat Nevin, with debates about whether he remains at his prime reigniting after recent defeats. While Liverpool have no intention of selling him this year, his declining form and age make him a potential future sale consideration.