Liverpool have announced what players will leave Anfield at the end of their contracts this summer, and it is disappointing news for Irish supporters of the club.
As had been reported a few weeks back, Conor Masterson has left the club. The Dubliner has been at the club since 2014, but having come close to a first team breakthrough last season, his progress has since been hampered by injury.
He was joined on the list by Glen McAuley and Corey Whelan. Whelan is an English-born defender who has seven Republic of Ireland U21 caps to his name.
McAuley is a Dublin native who joined Liverpool from St Joseph's in 2016, but did not really come close to making the first team. The 19-year old made 16 appearances in PL2 this past season.
The trio are joined on the list by the likes of Alberto Moreno, Daniel Sturridge, Conor Randall and Adam Bogdan. Meanwhile, new contracts have been offered to Bobby Adekanye, Daniel Atherton, George Johnston, Abdi Sharif and Edvard Tagseth.
By offering a new contract to a youth prospect, the club ensures they will receive some form of compensation should the player decide to move on.
After the excitement of seeing Caoimhin Kelleher collect a Champions League winners medal last week, this serves as another reminder of the difficulty young Irish prospects face in breaking through at English top clubs.
Hopefully these lads can go on to forge successful careers elsewhere.
