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Just weeks after Mohamed Salah announced his departure from Liverpool this summer, left back Andy Robertson has done the same.
Robertson, who arrived at Liverpool just three weeks after Salah in the summer of 2017, has brought his Anfield chapter to a close, having collected nine major honors along the way, including two Premier League titles and the 2018–19 Champions League trophy.
While Salah's future remained shrouded in uncertainty right up until his official announcement, Robertson's exit had been looking increasingly inevitable for some time.
Robertson Confirms Reason for Liverpool Departure
During the January transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur made an approach for Robertson, eager to bring in a seasoned campaigner to bolster their fight against the drop.
Talks ultimately collapsed after Liverpool were unable to find a suitable replacement, but notably, Robertson had been willing to make the switch. His desire to leave stemmed not from any internal friction, but from his reduced role in the starting lineup.
A cornerstone of the Jürgen Klopp era at Anfield, Robertson was displaced this season following the summer signing of Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth. Across 20 Premier League outings, the veteran Scotland international has managed just seven starts.
With Kerkez widely regarded as Liverpool's long-term solution at left back, there was simply no longer a place for club icon Robertson in the squad.
"It's not like I've turned down a contract or anything — there was no contract on the table," Robertson admitted. "It was a conversation we all had. It was a conversation of, 'O.K., this is what I want to do, I want to play and I believe I've still got the ability to play.' I think I have showed that this season."
Where Will Robertson Go?
Several clubs have been linked with a move for Robertson, among them Scottish powerhouse Celtic and La Liga outfit Atlético Madrid, who came close to securing his signature last summer following Kerkez's arrival at Anfield.
Nevertheless, reports indicate that Spurs are the frontrunners to sign Robertson this summer, having already persuaded him of the move back in January.
A verbal agreement is said to have been struck between Spurs and Robertson over personal terms, though any deal is contingent on Spurs avoiding relegation from the Premier League. With six matches remaining, Roberto De Zerbi's side have slipped into the drop zone.
Robertson is keen to continue playing top-flight football and would seek alternatives should Spurs be relegated to the Championship.
"I will be looking to sort my future out sooner rather than later," he admitted. "I don't want to be going to the World Cup with anything hanging over my head.
"But as of yet, there's nothing. We'll see where the future lies for me and my family."