Liverpool are set to block exits for three of their current first-team stars, as Arnel Slot does not want to bring any disruptions to their season.
According to Football Insider, Liverpool have decided to ignore all overtures coming in for some of their players. The Merseysiders are in no particular mood to allow the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa to leave in the January window.
Liverpool continued their dominant form in all competitions as they demolished German champions Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield to move top of the Champions League table. At the weekend, they managed to stage a comeback and win against Brighton to open up a two-point gap over Manchester City at the top of the standings.
Behind all those happy fan faces, there’s a lot of concern brewing about the futures of certain top team stars. Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are entering the final years of their deals at the club, and the danger of them leaving on a free is very much alive.
Others, like summer arrival Federico Chiesa and fringe midfielder Wataru Endo, have uncertain futures ahead of the January window. Liverpool have reportedly decided not to entertain any prospects of either of those two or Alexander-Arnold leaving the club in January, as Arne Slot wants to maintain squad harmony to keep everyone intact.
Alexander-Arnold continues to attract the interest of Real Madrid, who are now desperate to sign a right-back in light of Dani Carvajal’s season-ending injury. Any deal for the right-back would have been difficult anyway in January, but Real Madrid are reportedly advancing in the pursuit. In any case, Liverpool are in no mood to sanction the sale of one of their key stars, even if he ends up leaving on a free next summer.
Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa set to stay?
Wataru Endo has suffered from a lack of game time, and he does have English suitors as well as Italian ones ahead of the January window. Arne Slot will prioritise the depth of that position and will not sanction the departure of the Japanese international, although if the club brings in a replacement, then the thinking might change.
As for Chiesa, he has suffered an injury-riddled start to life at Liverpool, with links over a return to Serie A already becoming relevant. Como are one of those keen among others, although the Reds are not eager to sanction any departure for the winger, even if it is on a temporary loan deal.
