New Liverpool manager Arne Slot will soon bid farewell to one of his players.
As Slot prepares to take charge of the Merseyside club, he will do so without the support of an experienced member of the Liverpool squad.
Goalkeeper Adrian has reportedly declined the opportunity to stay at Liverpool and is finalizing a move to Real Betis, according to a report from ABC Sevilla.
The 37-year-old joined Liverpool on a free transfer in 2019 after leaving West Ham, serving as a backup goalkeeper. He made 26 appearances before being replaced by Caoimhin Kelleher, who now acts as Alisson Becker’s primary backup.
Liverpool offered to extend Adrian’s £60,000-a-week contract for another year, but he opted to return to his home country instead, as reported by the Spanish news outlet.
Adrian, who is expected to play in La Liga next season, received a contract extension offer from Liverpool, which the club announced on its website earlier this month.
It marks the end of a five-year era. Adrian will be fondly remembered for his contributions to the Premier League club’s success.
He played a pivotal role in goal during the Reds’ penalty shootout victory over Chelsea in the 2019 UEFA Super Cup final. As a squad player, he was vital to the team and consistently performed well when needed.
Why Liverpool Need to Sign a Goalkeeper This Summer
If Kelleher also departs, Adrian’s potential exit could pose a significant issue for the Reds.
In that case, the Premier League club would need to recruit two new backup goalkeepers for Alisson.
Besides signing a new attacker and defender, the Reds would now also have to bring in new goalkeepers.
In other Liverpool news, Liverpool on Red Alert as Both 29-year-old and Club Now Open to Summer Departure