Liverpool’s summer clear-out has commenced, as Sebastian Coates has joined Sunderland in a permanent deal.
The Uruguayan central defender, who was sent out on loan last season, has been allowed to join Sunderland for a small fee after it was decided he wouldn’t make the grade at Anfield in the future.
The player’s chances of making it at first team level at Anfield never looked bright having only started 24 times since 2011 and as is with so many loan players, last year was more of a year-long trial, and Sunderland have decided they like what they see.
Liverpool have a surplus of options at centre back, with Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Kolo Toure and Dejan Lovren ahead of Coates in the pecking order, and with the likes of Tiago Ilori and new signing Joe Gomez waiting in the wings, the defender has decided to chance his hand elsewhere.
June has been a month of incomings in the transfer market, yet this signals on of the first sale by the club, and comes as a timely reminder to Brendan Rodgers that his work this summer is not done, and there are plenty of players that need to be shifted out in time for the new season.
The fee received from the sale of Coates will most likely form part of a bid for a striker, with Liverpool heavily linked with Christian Benteke, who has a large release clause.
