Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has intimated that players not happy at the club will be freely allowed to leave this summer.
The German was asked about his plans for his hefty squad during his pre-match conference for the Southampton tie.
The likes of Christian Benteke and a handful of others are struggling for minutes at the moment, and Klopp’s comments indicates he’ll have little time for ‘hangers on’ come the end of the season.
“Everything is okay in this moment but nobody in the world, maybe only (Lionel) Messi, is unsellable,” Klopp said – cited by the Echo.
“There is always a situation. I come from a club (Borussia Dortmund) where always the best players are picked by other teams and at the end you have to accept a few things and you always need to have a Plan B or Plan C.
“If any player comes to me and says I don’t feel comfortable and things like this, and I want to leave, our style of play blah blah, and more money, then you always have to start thinking. That’s all I can say on this.
“Coutinho, Firmino, so many players are very special. You could go through the whole squad. That’s why I give a general answer.
“If a player wants to go to another club then I’d always be open because I don’t want to have a player in my squad who doesn’t want to be in the squad.
“These are problems you don’t need during a season. A player cannot be good enough for you to have to cope with the problems for one year.”
In all likelihood, Benteke won’t be a Liverpool player next season. West Ham have been strongly linked with a move for the £32.5m striker (via the Independent) and with Danny Ings yet to return from injury, the powerful Belgian is probably surplus to requirements.
Elsewhere, the likeable Kolo Toure will depart on the expiration of his contract, while Joe Allen could also be moved on with little over a year left on his deal.
Loanees Mario Balotelli and Luis Alberto are certainties to be sold, as Joel Matip and Marko Grujic will arrive ahead of the new season.
The latter has just been called up to the Serbia squad for the first time, and will provide a physical central midfield option.