Liverpool Flop Kostas Tsimikas Set To Return With Roma Ready To Terminate Loan

Roma are prepared to terminate Kostas Tsimikas’ loan and send him back to Liverpool.

Roma Ready Kostas Tsimikas Replacement

According to Tuttomercato, the left-back is not in Gian Piero Gasperini’s plans for the second half of the season. As a result, the club would be open to shipping him back to Merseyside, despite his uncertain future there.

Sky Sport also claimed the prospect of Tsimikas leaving is ‘likely’ if the Giallorossi sign a replacement this month.

The 29-year-old has played just 600 minutes for the Italian outfit, starting four times in 15 appearances.

Liverpool would accept his surprise return, with the defender having received interest from numerous other clubs. Among them is said to be Olympiacos, the side the Greek left to move to Anfield for £12million in 2020.

Two Premier League teams are also circling and would be keen to take him for the back end of the campaign. Indeed, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United had both pushed for his signature during the summer.

Tsimikas has just one year left on his Liverpool contract and is unlikely to force his way back in under Arne Slot.

Milos Kerkez’s £40m arrival and Andy Robertson’s strong form pushed him down to third choice at left-back. He has similarly flattered to deceive in Serie A, despite Angelino’s lengthy fitness problems.

Roma are targeting Fiorentina defender Niccolo Fortini, but an opening €8m was rejected, per Tuttomercato.

Why Liverpool Return May Not Be Simple

However, Tsimikas’ potential return to Liverpool could be more complicated than first feared.

This is because the Premier League heavyweights have already reached their squad registration limit for non-homegrown players, leaving no space for Slot to register Tsimikas should he hand him an olive branch.

The 47-cap Greece international would therefore be left in limbo, without a clear resolution to the stand-off.

A sensible solution appears to be for the Reds to first find him a new club before allowing Roma to rip up his loan.

Robertson’s own future dilemma could still see Tsimikas used as a stop-gap option.

According to Paul Joyce of The Times, he could act as a back-up to Kerkez if Robertson leaves when his deal runs down in five months. The reporter went on to stress, though, that this would not be a ‘long-term solution’.

Tsimikas has made 115 appearances in total for Liverpool to date, recording 18 assists.

Meanwhile, Roma have a further transfer dilemma on their hands, with Paulo Dybala set to leave.