When Liverpool announced their 34-man squad to start pre-season training in Austria on July 12, there was one name that was seemingly missing.
Sheyi Ojo, who spent last season out on loan at Cardiff City and is under contract with Liverpool until 2023, has surprisingly been left off the Reds’ training list.
With Jurgen Klopp naming a fairly large squad of players who will be travelling to Salzburg to begin preparations for the 2021/22 campaign, it was expected that all contracted players who aren’t away on international duty would be present.
Although the reason behind Ojo’s omission has not been communicated, there has also been no update or news that the winger is injured.
The Englishman enjoyed an impressive campaign with The Bluebirds last season, grabbing himself five goals and seven assists in 42 appearances – leading to manager Neil Harris labelling him ‘unbelievable’.
It was reported that the 23-year-old would assess his future this summer and considering the fact that he has previously been linked with an Anfield exit, his exclusion from the pre-season squad list could be very telling.
Considering the fact that many Liverpool fans would probably be content with Ojo leaving the club this summer – with 80% of surveyed supporters happy for him to leave the Reds – it provides Klopp and Michael Edwards with a big decision to make.
Not only did the winger have a positive impact at the Millennium Stadium last season, but he was also impressive during his loan spell with Steven Gerrard ’s Rangers.
Ojo bagged five goals and assisted a further seven during Rangers’ 2019/20 campaign – including a remarkable strike against Feyenoord in the Europa League.
When his spell in Glasgow came to an end, he left by naming the Rangers supporters as the ‘best fans in the world’.
With his exclusion from Liverpool’s 34-man squad for the trip to Austria seemingly not because of an injury, it could potentially be because a deal is already lined up.
