Liverpool to consider Ragnar Klavan

Jurgen Klopp is keen to trim his numbers before the end of the month and the Estonian defender could lead the exodus

Liverpool will consider allowing Ragnar Klavan to leave the club before the close of the European transfer window this month.

The Estonian defender is one of a number of players who could exit Anfield by August 31, as the Reds look to trim their squad.

Klavan is in the final year of his contract – though Liverpool have the option to extend that by 12 months – and is keen to secure regular first-team football. The 32-year-old attracted interest from Newcastle United in the final days of the Premier League window, but that move failed to materialise with the Magpies instead signing Federico Fernandez from Swansea City.

And while there is no rush to offload Klavan on Jurgen Klopp’s part – he remains a popular member of the squad and has rarely let Liverpool down during his 53 appearances for the club – there is an acceptance that the player may wish to seek pastures new.

Klavan would have no shortage of suitors in the Bundesliga were he to leave, having forged a stellar reputation during four years with Augsburg. He joined Liverpool in 2016 and has provided experienced cover at both centre-back and, on occasion last season, as a left-back.

Klopp, Goal reports, would have no problem calling upon him again should he opt to stay beyond this month, but with Virgil van Dijk, Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez all competing for places, and Nat Phillips having emerged as an option from the Under-23 setup, opportunities are likely to be limited. Klavan was ruled out of Sunday’s Premier League opener with West Ham due to injury, but is expected to resume training at Melwood this week.

Liverpool expect to offload a number of other fringe players before the month is out. Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet would be the most high-profile departure, with Napoli and Besiktas tracking the Belgian.

Divock Origi would be allowed to leave if a suitable offer was received, though Valencia, who were keen, have signed his international rival Michy Batshuayi on loan from Chelsea. Lazar Markovic, another player in the final year of his contract, is likely to depart while Pedro Chirivella is attracting interest from Celtic.

Sheyi Ojo, who featured for the U23s against Reading on Friday, is another who could exit, with Liverpool willing to consider both loan and permanent deals for the England U20 World Cup winner. The future of Marko Grujic, the Serbian international, is also unclear, though Klopp would ideally like to retain the 21-year-old, who is rated highly at the club.