Liverpool consider transfer exit as £12m forgotten man's new role hits home

Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas faces an uncertain future - and one more likely to be away from Anfield - after being excluded from Arne Slot's matchday squad for the Community Shield. Plans for the new season are taking shape ahead of their Premier League title defence, with four new signings in his starting lineup for Sunday's match against Crystal Palace.

Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez were handed starts at right and left-back respectively, while record signing Florian Wirtz was picked to play in attacking midfield. New forward Hugo Ekitike also got the nod in attack.

Veteran left-back Andy Robertson was also present on the substitutes' bench as cover for Kerkez, with those two very much battling to be first choice on Merseyside. But that leaves Greece international Tsimikas firmly on the outside looking in. After five years at Anfield where he has been back up to Robertson, his role is now being further reduced after the arrival of £40m Kerkez from Bournemouth this summer.

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As such, Tsimikas is likely to move on before the close of the transfer window if a deal can be done for the 29-year-old. A number of clubs are claimed to be 'circling' for his signature, led by Premier League pair Leeds United and Nottingham Forest.

The Greece international has made a total of 115 appearances for Liverpool since joining from Olympiakos in 2020, but has never been able to usurp Robertson as first choice. He made just nine starts under Slot in the Premier League last season and had to take chances in the cup competitions after making five starts in the Champions League and two in the FA Cup.

Liverpool are still looking to upgrade their defensive options as they bid to sign a new centre-back. They currently have only three senior options in the centre of defence after Jarrell Quansah signed for Bayer Leverkusen.

Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi has emerged as an option and Reds chiefs are open to bringing in the England international before the current window closes, if a deal can be done at a price they like. If not, they are willing to wait until next summer and sign Guehi on a free, unless another outstanding option presents itself in the coming weeks.

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