Liverpool could be set to offset some of the £146million spent on Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong thanks to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. Theo Hernandez is reportedly close to joining the Pro League runners-up from AC Milan.

Hernandez’s switch to the Middle East could indirectly aid Liverpool’s sale of Andy Robertson to Atletico Madrid. The Reds left-back is set to end his successful seven-year spell at Anfield and is likely to move to the Spanish capital. Atletico are widely reported to be considering a £5m purchase of the Scotland international, but they had also been linked with Hernandez.

But according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the 27-year-old is close to completing a transfer to Al-Hilal. That could speed up Atletico’s swoop for Robertson, which could land Liverpool a financial boost.

Atletico had also been linked with Aston Villa full-back Lucas Digne. However, the La Liga outfit are reported to have baulked at the £10m asking price for a player with only a year remaining on his contract.

Robertson was set to fall down the pecking order at Anfield next season. Milos Kerkez’s impending £40m arrival from Bournemouth would have seen the Scot’s game time limited.

Liverpool are keen to offload some fringe stars after spending big on a summer spree that has injected even more quality into Arne Slot’s Premier League title-winning squad. Deals for Robertson and Jarell Quansah, who is understood to be moving to Bayer Leverkusen, will bank the Merseysiders around £40m.

Robertson has only a year remaining on his contract and seemed unlikely to extend his deal, which would have allowed him to leave on a free in a year’s time. Accepting £5m for the 32-year-old sees Liverpool recoup an admirable fee.

Quansah, Harvey Elliott and Darwin Nunez have all been linked with exits. The Times have reported that Ibrahima Konate, who is said to have interest from Real Madrid, has stalled talks over a new contract.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s spending is not expected to stop any time soon. Kerkez is set to be their third senior arrival of the window after Wirtz and Frimpong. A centre-back is likely to be prioritised next, with Marc Guehi understood to be high on the club’s agenda.

A new striker cannot be ruled out either. Liverpool have been loosely linked with Alexander Isak and Julian Alvarez, but both deals could be difficult to complete ahead of the 2025-26 season.