Liverpool player set to become first departure under Arne Slot despite being offered new contract

Liverpool are set to confirm their first official player departure under the management of Arne Slot, according to a new report.

Slot officially took charge of the Reds on June 1 following Jurgen Klopp's exit, and took part in his first club interview earlier this week.

Liverpool announced their retained list at the beginning of June, though it is unclear whether the Dutchman will have had any significant input into that given that the departures of Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara had already been announced before he took the job.

The retained list featured confirmation that a new contract had been offered to long-serving goalkeeper Adrian, who signed for Liverpool back in 2019.

The offer came as something of a surprise to Reds fans, given that the Spaniard has not played in a competitive fixture since featuring in the season-opening Community Shield in August 2022.

However, according to Fabrizio Romano, Adrian has now verbally agreed terms to join Real Betis as a free agent, thus turning down the offer of remaining at Anfield.

Romano says that the 37-year-old has already given his 'green light' to the deal, with only formal steps required before the move is announced in January.

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There has been no official confirmation as yet that he has rejected Liverpool's contract offer, meaning he could yet remain at Anfield if a deal with Betis falls through.

However, speaking last month, Adrian indicated that he would be prepared to move back to his home country if the opportunity arose in the summer.

He told Movistar Plus: "I would like to return to La Liga after 11 seasons in the Premier League. It would be the end of a cycle.

"I'm still ready to compete. I feel very good, despite being 37. You know that goalkeepers, if you take good care of yourself, if you haven't had any serious injuries lately and you're fine, the daily training gives you that intensity that makes you compete."

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