Liverpool star 'wants to leave' after Arne Slot sacking
A Liverpool star reportedly wants to leave the club following the sacking of Arne Slot.
The Reds announced on Saturday that they had parted company with Slot after the end of the Dutchman's second season in charge.
Liverpool have since agreed a deal to appoint Andoni Iraola as their new head coach following his departure from Bournemouth.
The Spaniard is said to have agreed to a two-year contract and is expected to be unveiled in his new role this week.
Advert
According to ESPN, one of Iraola's main transfer priorities is to strengthen on the wings, with Bradley Barcola, Jarrod Bowen and Yan Diomande all linked with moves to Anfield.
But his rebuilding job may need to be even bigger than first thought.
Liverpool player 'does not see a future' at Anfield
According to Dutch outlet SoccerNews.nl, Reds forward Cody Gakpo has decided he wants to leave Liverpool as a result of Slot's exit.
Gakpo was one of Slot's most trusted players last season and started 32 of Liverpool's 38 Premier League matches, scoring seven goals and providing five assists.
He signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool last summer, and told the club's official website that he felt 'at home, my family feels at home'.
But it is claimed that Gakpo does not see a future at Anfield without Slot in charge.
Any winger signings are likely to weaken his position at Liverpool, though the Dutchman often lined up as a centre forward last season in the absence of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
Ekitike is set to miss the start of the 2026/27 season after suffering a serious Achilles tendon injury against Paris Saint-Germain in March.
Gakpo's contract will strengthen Liverpool's position in terms of not desperately pursuing a sale.
The 27-year-old is Liverpool's third highest earner, according to Capology, on £250,000 per week. Only Isak and captain Virgil van Dijk are said to earn more.
What have Liverpool players said about Slot's sacking?
A number of Liverpool players have publicly spoken out surrounding Slot's departure, with captain Van Dijk thanking the Dutchman in a message on Instagram.
Ekitike, meanwhile, also posted a thank you message to Slot on the same platform, writing: "Thank you for everything that you taught me and for the time you gave me both on and off the pitch.
"I wish you all the very best coach."
Jeremie Frimpong, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones were among the other Reds players to pay tribute.
In an interview with Dutch outlet NOS after arriving for international duty ahead of the World Cup, Van Dijk revealed that Liverpool executives hadn't informed him that they would be sacking Slot.
"I landed in Amsterdam on Saturday afternoon and then it had already leaked," he explained.
"After that I naturally had conversations, but the decision was already taken. It is not like they ask me how or what.
"We are now living in a world where [everyone] wants to be the first person to break the news. These people are the ones that benefit from it. Yeah... this is the reality.
"I spoke with Arne and with Sipke [Hulshoff, assistant manager]. That is the most important thing for me.
"I am very grateful to them. For everything they have meant, not only to me but also to the club. I wish them only success."
Topics: Liverpool, Arne Slot, Cody Gakpo, Transfers
Ryan Smart