Sadio Mane out, Harry Kane in: Five players Liverpool should sell and sign this summer

Forward line expected to see the most significant changes at Anfield during the off-season

Liverpool's Senegalese striker Sadio Mane celebrates with temmates on an open-top bus during a parade through the streets of Liverpool in north-west England on May 29, 2022, to celebrate winning the 2021-22 League Cup and FA Cup. - Despite the disappointment of losing to real Madrid in the final of the UEAF Champions League, Klopp has called on Liverpool fans to take to the streets of the city on Sunday when they parade the League Cup and FA Cup. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Naby Keita - Despite having a good end to the season, the midfielder has never hit the heights expected of him since he arrived on Merseyside four years ago. He is yet to fully adapted to the physicality of the Premier League and the right price will tempt Liverpool. AP

Takumi Minamino - The Japanese forward has been a little unlucky and finds himself way back in the queue of attacking players. He needs a good run of games and is unlikely to get that at Anfield. At 27 he still has time to rebuild his career. AFP

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - The 28-year-old midfielder has gone backwards since returning from a devastating knee injury sustained against Roma four years ago. He has had limited chances in the first team but rarely impressed. A move away is necessary to get back on track. AFP

Mohamed Salah - Do Liverpool wait a year and let the Egyptian walk away on a free transfer? Or do they pay the Premier League’s most prolific striker the £400,000-plus per week wage he wants? There is a third option: sell the man who will be 30 this month and move on without him. Any decision is fraught with danger but losing Salah and Mane in the same summer would be a bad look. AFP

FIVE LIVERPOOL SIGNINGS: Harry Kane - On the face of it, this move seems preposterous. The England captain has made noises suggesting he is happy with the direction Antonio Conte is taking Tottenham Hotspur. However, the possibility of a move to Anfield would intrigue the 28-year-old. He would require a huge fee and big wages, though, and is only 13 months younger than Salah. His style of play is closer to Roberto Firmino’s than the Egyptian’s, too. Getty

Darwin Nunez - The Uruguayan fits Fenway Sports Group’s transfer profile. He is young – 23 next month – and has room for improvement. Benfica are looking for around £85 million and Liverpool would want to bargain them down, although interest from elsewhere may push up the price to unrealistic levels. AFP

Christopher Nkunku - The RB Leipzig striker was sensational in the Bundesliga, scoring 35 goals and registering 22 assists. He can play up front and in midfield, and adaptability is a quality Jurgen Klopp values. The Frenchman looks like he can adapt to English football but Liverpool thought that about Keita, who also excelled at Leipzig. Nkunku is a hot property but Merseyside is near the front of the queue for his preferred destinations. Reuters

Ibrahim Sangare - The Ivorian is the sort of player who could bolster Liverpool’s midfield. Last season he was PSV Eindhoven’s standout performer and his mobility, power and defensive skills would make him a good fit for Klopp’s system. AP

Calvin Ramsay - The Aberdeen right back has gained plenty of attention and his £4 million price-tag means he would not be much of a gamble. At 18, the youngster has plenty of room for growth and although he would not see much playing time behind Trent Alexander-Arnold, he would be learning from the best at Anfield. Getty

The Champions League final meant that an uplifting season ended on a downbeat for Liverpool. The 1-0 defeat by Real Madrid – combined with events outside the Stade de France – cast a shadow over a truly remarkable campaign.

Yet, by the time Jurgen Klopp and his team got off the open-top bus after their homecoming parade on Sunday, optimism was sky high again. They know how to win – the two domestic cups prove that – and it was no shame being edged out for the title by Manchester City on the last day of the Premier League.

Klopp’s squad performed impressively. The group will largely remain intact for the coming season but Julian Ward, who will be leading the transfer strategy after the departure of sporting director Michael Edwards, will need to replace Sadio Mane.

The forward line is well stocked with Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino but bringing in another body up front is a priority. Salah and Firmino are both coming into the final year of their contracts and will be over 30 when the new campaign begins. The biggest questions for Liverpool revolve around the attacking players.

The midfield could do with a battle-hardened recruit to bolster that department. Naby Keita showed signs of rising to the challenge in 2022 but his four years at the club have been a little disappointing. Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho should anchor the middle going forward but increasing the competition for the third midfielder is high on the agenda.

The defence is the area that needs least work. Joel Matip stepped up hugely last season and the emergence of Ibrahima Konate in the last couple of months gives Klopp options at centre half. He will now be able to consider resting Virgil van Dijk without causing himself and the supporters palpitations. Kostas Tsimikas is an able deputy for Andrew Robertson and Joe Gomez showed his adaptability when covering for Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool 2021/22 season ratings

MANAGER: Jurgen Klopp – 9. A year ago the manager looked a broken man. Personal and professional problems made 2020/21 a difficult campaign. Last season he recovered his bounce and his deployment of the squad while competing on four fronts was superb. The added bonus for the Kop is he has extended his contract until 2026. A triumph of a year, even if the two biggest trophies got away from him. Getty Images

GOALKEEPERS: Alisson Becker – 9. The Brazilian is among the best in the world at his position. His shotstopping is magnificent – especially one-on-one – and his distribution is excellent. He managed the defence with aplomb, too, directing those in front of him. A key component in the team. EPA

Caoimhin Kelleher ¬– 7. The Irishman did not get much playing time but he made the most of it when he did. His biggest moment came in the League Cup final against Chelsea when he made two crucial saves and scored a penalty in the shoot-out. The most reliable of backups. PA

DEFENDERS: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8. The 23-year-old was again the creative hub of the team. His forward play and his crossing are vital to the way the side plays. Sure, he had some tricky moments defensively when opponents managed to exploit the space behind him, but it was a risk worth taking. He oozed class. Getty Images

Joe Gomez – 6. The 25-year-old dropped down the pecking order at centre-half after returning from long-term injury. On the plus side, he was impressive when filling in at right-back. He has done well enough to likely earn a contract extension. Reuters

Joel Matip – 8. One of the big question marks over the 30-year-old had been his robustness. Injuries were not a factor last season. His use of space, quickness and his ability to bring the ball out from the back were outstanding. It bodes well for the future. Reuters

Ibrahima Konate – 7. The Frenchman is a work in progress but he made significant advances in the season. He is sometimes skittish on the ball but improved with every outing – his best game was the Champions League final. His physicality is impressive and he was a threat in the opposition box. At just 23 he has massive room for improvement. PA

Virgil van Dijk – 8. It took a while for the Dutchman to return to his imperious best after returning from a cruciate ligament injury. He regained his stature as the season progressed. His commanding presence was vital to the team’s success. PA

Andrew Robertson – 8. The Scot’s boundless energy and his will to win were evident in every game he played. His crossing added a huge amount of threat to the Liverpool attack. He was one of the major figures in the side. AP Photo

Kostas Tsimikas – 7. They love the Greek at Anfield and every time he appeared in place of Robertson the crowd loved his approach. There was very little drop-off on the left side when the 26-year-old was involved. Reuters

MIDFIELDERS: Jordan Henderson – 7. The captain’s workrate and willingness to subvert his own game to help his teammates remained impressive. He might have slowed down a little at 31 but his experience more than made up for any reduction in pace. His leadership showed throughout the campaign. EPA

Fabinho – 8. The Brazilian is the man who seizes control of the midfield. His contribution was enormous and he supplied the platform from which the team could play. The defence were frequently grateful for his protective tackling. AP Photo

Thiago Alcantara – 9. At the beginning of the season some were still asking whether the 31-year-old was the right fit for Liverpool. Those questions have long been put to bed. His passing was often wonderful; his pressing remarkably effective. A standout campaign. EPA

Naby Keita – 6. The Guinean had moments when he looked brilliant and other games where he needed to offer more. He did not produce the consistency that the team needed over the season but a good finish to the campaign earned him a positive rating. EPA

James Milner – 7. The 36-year-old did everything asked of him. Much of that meant coming off the bench to help see games to their conclusion but the veteran put everything into every performance. Mr Reliable. AFP

Curtis Jones – 6. The 21-year-old didn’t develop quite as quickly as he might have hoped but that was due to an eye injury and the strength of the squad. He showed enough quality to be optimistic for the future. EPA

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 4. It was not a good season for the 28-year-old. His opportunities were limited and when the chances to play came along he rarely shone. With so many impressive performers, he found himself at the back of the queue and a summer exit seems inevitable. AP Photo

FORWARDS: Mohamed Salah – 9. The Egyptian remained the best attacker in the Premier League and perhaps the world. Even after taking a month off to play in the Africa Cup of Nations, he won the Golden Boot with 23 league goals. Defences were visibly unnerved by his presence. EPA

Roberto Firmino – 7. The Brazilian dropped down the pecking order but that was because of the abundance of attacking quality rather than his own failings. He was sometimes overshadowed by his teammates but his clever movement and touches frequently improved the side. AP Photo

Sadio Mane – 8. The Senegalese menaced defences. At times his competitive instincts meant he came close to overstepping the mark but he mainly stayed on the right side of the line. He will be sorely missed when he leaves Anfield this summer. Reuters

Diogo Jota – 7. The Portuguese maintained his fine form throughout the campaign. His direct running at defenders and his poacher’s instinct in the area proved effective. EPA

Luis Diaz – 8. The Colombian has been sensational since arriving from Porto in January. He slotted into the attack as if he had been at Anfield for years. A brilliant buy for the club. AFP

Divock Origi – 6. The Belgian departs Merseyside in a wave of affection. He was never a natural fit for the side’s style but he gave the team a different look and scored vital goals. The striker showed total commitment every time he played. PA

Takumi Minamino – 6. The Japanese spent most of his time on the bench. He was top scorer in both domestic cup campaigns and never lacked for effort. A move is likely in the summer and he should thrive elsewhere with more playing time. Reuters

Harvey Elliott – 6. The 19-year-old started the season expecting to contribute regularly but a serious ankle injury in September slowed his progress. By the time he came back in February, the dynamics of the team had changed and there were fewer chances for the youngster. There will be plenty of time for him to blossom. EPA

This is not a squad that needs a drastic overhaul. A striker plus a few nips and tucks will keep the levels up and Liverpool will expect to challenge on all four fronts next campaign.

The biggest signing of the year was Klopp extending his contract until 2026. Anfield has lots of attractive attributes for players, the atmosphere and the chance to compete for trophies among them. The biggest draw is the German manager. He was at the top of his game, exuding energy and intelligence and giving his players the opportunity to perform to the best of their ability.

The 54-year-old German wants to win the Premier League title again. He wants to go back to the Champions League final. Next year, the continent’s showpiece game is in Istanbul. Liverpool fans know miracles happen in the Ataturk Stadium. It will not take a miracle for Klopp and his team to return to the biggest match in European football.