Defender 'very likely' to RETURN to Liverpool | OneFootball

One defender looks likely to return to Liverpool.

Back in the summer transfer window, Richard Hughes was a busy man. He was so busy sorting out transfer incomings and some really smart sales as well that some fringe players perhaps might have fallen down his priority list. Or at least, that's how it seemed.

There were also players Liverpool were reluctant to lose.

Just take Harvey Elliott as an example. Liverpool didn't want to sell him because he's a valuable member of the squad. But ultimately he wanted to go out and play football.

A loan with an option to buy was agreed between Aston Villa in the final stages of the window as a compromise but this has been doomed to fail from the start.

Elliott has simply not had enough opportunities and he's become an outcast. Now, his future hangs in the balance.

He's not the only one.

Kostas Tsimikas went through a similar upheaval in the summer. For a long period during pre-season it seemed like he was reluctant to leave.

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The Greek scouser wanted to fight for his place even with the arrival of Milos Kerkez. It was only towards the final month when it became apparent that Liverpool simply could not have three left-backs registered in the squad that Tsimikas made the move away from Merseyside.

Going on loan to Roma with an option to buy seemed like a perfect destination for him.

The Italian Serie A is a bit slower paced and more suited to Tsimikas' style of play. Roma are still a great club and it's an opportunity for Tsimikas to play in Europe and continue to compete for trophies.

Ultimately though Tsimikas has struggled to break into the side so far. He's not the preferred left-back option and when he has played he has disappointed.

Now Tuttomercatoweb reports that it's extremely likely that he's going to return to Liverpool at the end of his loan spell. Unless something drastic changes, Tsimikas will fulfil his current loan spell but Roma have already started to look at alternative left-back targets for the next summer transfer window.

It would be a disappointing way for Tsimikas' loan to end.

Whether he has any future when he returns to Liverpool is moot. Kerkez hasn't started well but he's got so much potential and when Slot learns how to utilise him, he will be a massive asset.

Andy Robertson's contract expires at the end of the season so Tsimikas could come in as a back-up to replace him. But Liverpool would probably be better off extending Robertson's contract and finding a permanent spot for the Greek international.