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Liverpool might have to do the unthinkable and sell their most valuable asset this summer

The ECHO's Liverpool writers discuss who the Reds could cash in on this summer to help power the new era at Anfield

Diogo Jota of Liverpool celebrates with Luis Diaz
Diogo Jota of Liverpool celebrates with Luis Diaz

Jurgen Klopp won't be the only big figure leaving Liverpool this summer as the German prepares to step down as manager.

Arne Slot is set to be named as his successor, with transfer speculation rife regarding a number of players the Dutchman will be inheriting.

Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, and Adrian are all likely to leave the club at the end of their contracts, but there are likely to be further outgoings as Slot starts to make the Liverpool squad his own.

With question marks hanging over the heads of a number of key players, be it in the face of rumoured interest from elsewhere or an expiring contract, our writers debate which player they would cash in if they were the ones calling the shots at Anfield...

LIverpool could sell most valuable player

Paul Gorst: There's plenty of merit in the idea that it is a great time to cash in on Caoimhin Kelleher this summer. The goalkeeper has proven himself to be a dependable, unflappable goalkeeper in the absence of Alisson Becker and he would certainly be an asset elsewhere in the Premier League.

However, the Irishman might not raise a significant amount of capital. Luis Diaz, on the other hand, could do just that. With Paris Saint-Germain likely to be in the market for a left-side forward once Kylian Mbappe's expected move to Real Madrid goes through, the Ligue 1 side would do worse than following through on their reported interest in the Colombia winger.

For Liverpool's part, Diaz never gives left than 100% and has been one of the few bright spots across an abject April. That being said, the former Porto winger could command a hefty sum that could be use to power Arne Slot's summer rebrand at Anfield.

According to the respected website Transfermarkt, Diaz is the most valuable Liverpool player, alongside Dominik Szoboszlai, and while he has enjoyed a good campaign on the whole, an offer near his apparent £70m valuation might be too hard to resist considering upgrades might be out there for the Reds.

You can't turn your nose up at Saudi money for Salah

Theo Squires: You can go through many of the players in the current Liverpool squad and question whether they will have a long-term future at Anfield under Arne Slot.

The time has surely come, albeit reluctantly, for Caoimhin Kelleher to move on and become a first-choice goalkeeper elsewhere while Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara will certainly leave at the end of their contracts. Speculation regarding Luis Diaz refuses to go away, while there will be uncertainty around Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold for as long as their contracts remain unextended.

Darwin Nunez's recent struggles have also prompted debate over his place at Liverpool, though it does seem knee-jerk to write him and cash in so soon.

Should there be an understanding that Salah won't be signing a new contract, it would make sense for the Reds to move him on this summer. If big-money interest from Saudi Arabia remains, Liverpool bosses can't turn their noses up at it - even if tales of the Egyptian's decline in recent weeks have been exaggerated.

But if Salah has no desire to move on and wants to be part of Slot's squad, with the Reds confident that he will remain as effective and consistent as ever in the next two seasons, then Diaz is perhaps a player they would look to move on instead.

The Colombian has remained in solid form as others have faltered recently, but he just isn't as effective in front of goal as some of his team-mates. Now 27, he's at his peak and this represents Liverpool's best chance to bank maximum profit for the winger.

Were it not for regular speculation linking him with a move away, and frequent soundbites from his father flirting with a move, it probably wouldn't be a notion onlookers would consider at this point. But with seemingly likely that Diaz does have one eye on his next move, then the Reds should be prepared to move him on on their terms.

Do the unthinkable and cut your losses on Jota

Joe Rimmer: Selling Caoimhin Kelleher might appear the easer route to make a quick buck for Liverpool this summer but perhaps his future isn't as cut and dried as some might think.

Alisson, unfortunately, tends to pick up injuries and Kelleher has proven to be a reliable alternative. If he is to leave, the fee could be lower, with a buyback clause inserted to protect Liverpool's future interests.

But if the Reds really want to raise some cash I'd suggest doing so by considering the unthinkable and selling one of Liverpool's most popular players.

And it's not Luis Diaz.

Instead, I'd be tempted to cash in on Diogo Jota if a suitable suitor could be persuaded to pay big money. The Portuguese is no doubt an excellent player, but his injury record is such that Liverpool simply can't rely on him for long periods of the season.

The opposite is true of Diaz, whose availability is a huge asset to a side who suffer far too many injuries as it is.

Both players are the same age and it would be nice to see Liverpool spend without having to sell, but if they need to raise funds then I'd cut my losses on somebody who misses far too many games - no matter how good he is, or how catchy that chant may be.

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