Liverpool player set to become first departure under Arne Slot despite being offered new contract

🚨 FIRST EXIT UNDER SLOT 🚨

Liverpool are on the brink of announcing their first player departure under new manager Arne Slot. Long-serving goalkeeper Adrian has verbally agreed to join Real Betis as a free agent, turning down the chance to remain at Anfield despite being offered a new contract by the club.

Slot officially took charge of the Reds on June 1 following Jurgen Klopp’s exit and participated in his first club interview earlier this week. With Slot now at the helm, Liverpool is preparing for several changes, and Adrian’s departure marks the first significant move in this transition.

The club announced their retained list at the beginning of June, though it remains unclear whether Slot had any substantial input into that decision. The departures of Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara had already been confirmed before he assumed his role. The retained list did confirm that a new contract had been offered to Adrian, who signed with Liverpool back in 2019.

The offer came as a surprise to many Reds fans, given that the Spaniard has not played in a competitive fixture since the season-opening Community Shield in August 2022. Adrian has been a reliable backup during his time at Liverpool, but his limited game time suggested his future might lie elsewhere.

According to renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano, Adrian has now given his ‘green light’ to a deal with Real Betis. This agreement indicates that he is set to join the La Liga side as a free agent, thus turning down the offer to stay at Anfield. The move back to Spain seems appealing to Adrian, who has expressed a desire to return to La Liga and finish his career in his home country.

Romano reports that the 37-year-old has already agreed to the deal verbally, with only the formal steps remaining before the move is officially announced in January. As of now, there has been no official confirmation that Adrian has rejected Liverpool’s contract offer, meaning there is a slight chance he could remain at Anfield if the deal with Betis falls through.

However, speaking last month, Adrian indicated his readiness to move back to his home country if the opportunity arose in the summer. He told Movistar Plus: “I would like to return to La Liga after 11 seasons in the Premier League. It would be the end of a cycle. I’m still ready to compete. I feel very good, despite being 37. You know that goalkeepers, if you take good care of yourself, if you haven’t had any serious injuries lately and you’re fine, the daily training gives you that intensity that makes you compete.”

Adrian’s departure signifies a new era under Arne Slot, who aims to build a team that can challenge for top honors. As the formalities of Adrian’s move to Real Betis are expected to be completed by January, Liverpool fans will be watching closely to see how Slot manages the transition and who will step up as the new backup goalkeeper.