Arne Slot’s stance on 8 players leaving Liverpool once Hugo Ekitike transfer is completed

Liverpool’s summer spend is set to hit almost £300m but now Arne Slot’s squad is expected to be trimmed with several fringe figures near exits

Arne Slot’s squad has been boosted significantly by new signings.

Arne Slot’s squad has been boosted significantly by new signings.(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool are acclimatising in Asia ahead of their first pre-season friendly against AC Milan on Saturday while their latest sensational transfer nears completion as Hugo Ekitike jets into London for a medical ahead of a £79m move.

That will take their summer spend to date to almost the £300m mark as the Anfield club look to build a squad capable of retaining the Premier League title but it also means Arne Slot is now expected to bid farewell to a number of players before the campaign gets underway.

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Luiz Diaz’s future remains perhaps most intriguing. Bayern Munich have already a bid of about £60m rejected and the Colombia forward would like to explore an opportunity elsewhere.

And while Liverpool’s stance is that he is not for sale, with Diaz continuing to train with the first team as normal, they are bracing for an improved bid from the Bundesliga champions.

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Diaz is understood to be keen to depart because he wants a new contract – but the Reds hierarchy are in no rush to give him one. The belief of the 28-year-old and his agent is that he is underpaid at Anfield, when compared to team-mates of similar standing in the first-team squad.