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<\/p>\nA familiar issue is set to haunt new Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola<\/p>\n
Andoni Iraola is facing a potential mass exodus at Liverpool(Image: Steve Bardens, Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Andoni Iraola<\/a> is facing a potential mass exodus at Liverpool with six first-team stars\u2019 contracts set to expire next summer. Iraola was confirmed as Liverpool<\/a>\u2019s new head coach on Thursday<\/a>, signing a two-year deal with the Reds after impressing during his three-year tenure at Bournemouth<\/a>.<\/p>\n It followed Arne Slot<\/a>\u2019s sacking after a dismal second season<\/a> in charge – a year after his Premier League<\/a> title win. But Iraola will already need to manage without one of Slot\u2019s first-choice defenders, Ibrahima Konate<\/a>, due to the Frenchman\u2019s departure as a free agent<\/a>.<\/p>\n The club confirmed last week that Konate would leave at the end of his contract this summer after talks over a new deal failed to reach an agreement. The centre-back confirmed the next day that his Anfield career was over on social media.<\/p>\n FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FB PAGE! Latest Reds news and more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n Yet, Iraola may need to brace himself for several similar exits over the next 12 months, as six more players\u2019 contracts expire this time next year. Captain Virgil van Dijk, Curtis Jones, Alisson Becker, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo and Stefan Bajcetic – should they not sign fresh terms before then – will all leave for free in a year\u2019s time.<\/p>\n It puts Iraola in a difficult position, given that he will not know which of the aforementioned stars he can rely on in the long-term. Furthermore, their potential departures as free transfers are an issue for the club, whereby their combined transfer value of \u00a374million, as per transfermarkt<\/a>, represents a huge potential loss in revenue when they could have been sold instead.<\/p>\n This problem has been a constant theme at Liverpool over the past few years, with players running down their deals. Due to Liverpool not selling them soon enough, their valuations plummet once they approach the end of their contracts, meaning their values cannot be recouped – or they simply leave as free agents.<\/p>\n Virgil van Dijk could follow Ibrahima Konate out the door as a free agent next summer(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n Reds bosses haven\u2019t learned from their mistakes last year, when their three key players Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah<\/a> and Trent Alexander-Arnold<\/a>\u2019s futures were up in the air for much of the season and served as an unwelcome distraction.<\/p>\n In the end, Alexander-Arnold was the only one to leave in the summer of 2025, much to the fury of the Anfield faithful, though the club recouped a small sum <\/a>due to him joining Real Madrid<\/a> earlier than the free agency deadline.<\/p>\n Salah and Van Dijk signed short term contracts, but the pair held all the power during negotiations, just as the aforementioned players do now. Iraola will need to work quickly with Anfield chiefs to determine which players they are better off selling now and which he would rather hang on to, and potentially risk losing for free.<\/p>\n Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package<\/p>\n![\"Ibrahima](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1_Manchester-City-FC-v-Real-Madrid-CF-UEFA-Champions-League-202526-Round-of-16-Second-Leg.jpg\")
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