Liverpool are staring down the barrel of missing out on Champions League football next season – and that could cause major knock-on effects for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
There are still three months left in the season but already attention is turning to the summer at Liverpool.
The 2022/23 campaign has turned into a damp squib, with Jurgen Klopp’s side already staring down the barrel of some serious consequences. With a 5-2 deficit to overturn in Spain in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid, and a gap to the top four to close, the implications are coming into focus.
Whatever happens in the remainder of the campaign, there is sure to be a major overhaul of the playing squad in the off-season. The problem is that Liverpool will potentially have to attract new players without the allure of Champions League football.
That is the context that surrounds the latest Liverpool news.
Bellingham fears raised
Liverpool could miss out on £100million if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season, prompting fears about their ability to finance a move for Jude Bellingham.
Bellingham is Liverpool’s top transfer target and Klopp is desperate to sign him this summer, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita all set to leave the club.
But the Reds will likely have to break their transfer record to sign the Borussia Dortmund star, who is also wanted by Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea. That will be made much harder if they don’t secure a top-four finish.
Last season Liverpool made £89.2m from their run to the Champions League final, with TV money then estimated to have added a further £15m.
F1 link in takeover update
OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group are interested in selling a minority stake to Liberty Media. John W Henry recently said FSG are not looking for a full sale of Liverpool, rather a minority investment.
The Telegraph reports that Liberty fit the bill due to the company’s ownership of Formula One and Major League Baseball side Atlanta Braves.
Liberty purchased F1 from CVC Capital Partners in January 2017 for €4.4 billion (£3.6bn) and may be interested in furthering its portfolio in sport.
Rodgers slammed in Agger comparison
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Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has been slammed by Jannik Vestergaard, who has accused him of freezing him out at Leicester.
Vestergaard was signed from Southampton 18 months ago but Rodgers has not played him much at all. The Danish international has now spoken out – and compared his situation to Agger’s at Liverpool under the Northern Irishman.
He told Danish outlet Ekstra Bladet : “I think my situation at Leicester is in many ways very similar to what Agger experienced at Liverpool.
“From being highly valued one day to suddenly being completely out in the cold the next without an explanation you can use for anything. In a way, it almost feels nice to know that there is a history that Daniel Agger has also experienced that treatment; from day to night completely out of the blue.”
