Another member of Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League-winning squad of 2019/20 now looks set to sever his ties with Liverpool, despite the club wanting him to stay.
Earlier this month, the Reds had offered Adrian a contract extension at the end of his existing deal, although it appears that the veteran goalkeeper won’t be taking it up.
According to Spanish outlet ABC Sevilla, the 37-year-old is in the process of finalising a return to his homeland with Real Betis, where he began his career and (barring two loan spells) played until moving to England when joining West Ham in 2013.
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It may have surprised Liverpool fans when the club offered Adrian a new contract three weeks ago, considering that his most recent Reds appearance was in the 2022 Community Shield against Manchester City.
Perhaps the ongoing uncertainty over Caoimhin Kelleher’s future prompted Anfield chiefs to cover their bases and ensure that there’d be some senior depth in the goalkeeping position in case the Irishman were to depart, having signalled a desire to become a firm first-choice elsewhere.
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With the veteran Spaniard now looking set to leave, there could be a void in the squad for someone like Vitezslav Jaros to fill, with the 22-year-old having won the Austrian double in loan at Sturm Graz this year and earned a place in Czechia’s squad for Euro 2024.
While Adrian’s role at Liverpool had diminished to a very peripheral one, his contributions during the Premier League triumph of 2019/20 shouldn’t be forgotten, having deputised admirably during Alisson Becker’s injury at the start of that glorious campaign.
Although his Anfield career never recovered from those horrendous nights against Atletico Madrid and Aston Villa four years ago, he’s still been a commendable servant at the club. Should he join Betis as expected, he can move on from Merseyside with the pride of haivng played his part in an incredibly special season for the Reds.
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