New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola is facing a potential mass exodus, with six first-team players' contracts set to expire next summer. The 42-year-old was confirmed as the Reds' new manager on Thursday, signing a two-year deal after impressing during his tenure at Bournemouth.
Iraola replaces Arne Slot, who was sacked after a disappointing second season in charge, a year after winning the Premier League title. However, the Spaniard will already have to manage without defender Ibrahima Konate, who confirmed his departure as a free agent last week after failing to agree a new deal.
Six more players could follow Konate out the door in 12 months' time if they do not sign fresh terms. Captain Virgil van Dijk, Curtis Jones, Alisson Becker, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo and Stefan Bajcetic are all set to become free agents next summer, leaving Iraola in a difficult position as he will not know which stars he can rely on long-term.
The combined transfer value of the sextet is estimated at £74 million, according to Transfermarkt, representing a huge potential loss in revenue if they leave for free. This problem has been a constant theme at Liverpool in recent years, with players running down their contracts and the club failing to sell them in time to recoup their value.
Reds bosses have not learned from last year's saga involving Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose futures were a distraction for much of the season. Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid in the summer of 2025, while Salah and Van Dijk signed short-term extensions. Iraola will need to work quickly with club chiefs to decide which players to sell now and which to keep, potentially risking losing them for nothing.
