Liverpool fans bidding farewell to Andy Robertson this summer can take comfort in one reassuring fact: the club already has his replacement in-house.
The Scotland captain’s nine-year Anfield journey will come to an end when his contract expires this summer. Since arriving from Hull City in 2017, Robertson has delivered a fairytale career—two Premier League titles, a Champions League, an FA Cup, two League Cups, and a Club World Cup. Few players have embodied Liverpool’s high-intensity, full-throttle style quite like the tireless left-back nicknamed “Robbo.”
Yet this season has told a different story. Signed as a long-term successor, Hungary international Milos Kerkez has swiftly established himself as the first-choice left-back following his arrival from Bournemouth last summer. Robertson has largely played the role of dependable backup, and with Liverpool opting against offering a contract extension, the 32-year-old is set to depart as a free agent.
The Surprise Twist: Tsimikas Returns
In Friday’s press conference, head coach Arne Slot delivered the clearest indication yet of Liverpool’s succession plan—and it doesn’t involve a big-money signing.
“It will be a little transition this summer, maybe not as drastic as last year, but we have to change some personnel due to the players leaving,” Slot said. “Robbo will probably be replaced by Kostas Tsimikas as he will come back from his loan.”
The Greek international spent the 2025/26 campaign on a season-long loan at Roma. At the time, his departure appeared to signal the end of his Liverpool career. With Kerkez firmly installed and Robertson still at the club, there seemed little room for the popular squad player.
Now, with Robertson leaving and Tsimikas having just one year remaining on his contract, the 29-year-old is poised to return and slot straight back into the squad as Kerkez’s deputy. Slot’s comments suggest the club is confident Tsimikas can resurrect his Anfield career and provide reliable cover without disrupting squad harmony.
Smart Squad Management Over Splashy Spending
From a strategic standpoint, this move makes perfect sense. Liverpool face several pressing priorities in the upcoming transfer window, particularly in midfield and attack. With Mohamed Salah—who arrived in the same 2017 summer as Robertson—also heading for the exit door, significant funds are expected to be allocated toward replacing the Egyptian superstar. Names such as PSG’s Bradley Barcola and RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande have already been linked with big-money moves to Anfield.
In that context, promoting Tsimikas from within represents prudent squad-building. He is a known quantity: technically proficient, comfortable in possession, and fully versed in Liverpool’s tactical demands. Rather than investing heavily in another backup full-back, the club can redirect resources to higher-impact areas while maintaining depth on the left flank.
Liverpool are expected to keep a close eye on the left-back market throughout next season, with an eye toward eventually signing a younger, high-potential challenger to Kerkez’s starting role. For now, though, continuity and familiarity take precedence.
An Era Ends, Another Begins
The simultaneous departures of Robertson and Salah mark the closing of a golden chapter at Anfield—one defined by relentless energy, silverware, and unforgettable European nights. Yet under Arne Slot, Liverpool have shown a willingness to evolve while preserving the club’s core identity.
Tsimikas’s return may not grab as many headlines as a flashy new signing, but it could prove one of the most sensible decisions of the summer. A trusted squad player ready to step up, a cost-effective solution, and a smooth transition for one of the most demanding positions on the pitch.
The Robertson era is ending. The Tsimikas chapter, it seems, is about to be rewritten.
What do you make of Slot’s plan? Is Tsimikas the right man to back up Kerkez, or should Liverpool still look for fresh blood at left-back?