Defender Kolo Toure’s departure from Liverpool will be officially confirmed when the club’s list of retained players is published on Friday.
The former Ivory Coast international will be the highest-profile name to leave Anfield this summer after his contract expired.
Kolo Toure has been released by Liverpool. Thanks for the memories Kolo and good luck in the future! #LFC #YNWA pic.twitter.com/UpRQriIVpm
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) June 10, 2016
Ir is understood the 35-year-old will not be offered a new contract despite finishing the season as first-choice centre-back alongside Dejan Lovren and putting in the best performance in Liverpool’s Europa League final defeat to Sevilla.
There was a point in the last month when there was a chance Toure could earn a new short-term deal with the future of Mamadou Sakho unclear after his failed drugs test.
However, the France international’s initial 30-day suspension has not been extended as UEFA investigate whether the fat burning substance found in his sample should even be on their banned list.
With that in mind, and the fact Joel Matip is arriving from Schalke on a free transfer and the 19-year-old Joe Gomez is returning to fitness after a cruciate knee ligament operation, the decision has been made to let Toure go even though Martin Skrtel is set to follow him out of the door with Besiktas interested in signing the Slovakia defender.
Liverpool had considered offering Toure a coaching role but the defender is keen to extend his playing career as long as possible and could now get a lucrative deal as a free agent.
Reds fans are taking the news hard and sharing their memories of the loveable defender.
Gutted @KoloKolotoure28 leaves @LFC today. Ur humility, leadership & passion shall B greatly missed#ThanksKolo#LFC pic.twitter.com/FIf3GMPDQY
— Adnan Ally Suarez (@adnan12000) June 10, 2016
Thanks to Kolo Toure for showing us the dead fish block https://t.co/eLubxFJN3Q
— Indigo (@IndigoLFC) June 10, 2016
It has today being confirmed that Kolo Toure will leave the club....what a man, going to seriously miss him.😥🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/mFxLqQZh86
— Kloppholic (@Kloppholic) June 10, 2016
Some of Kolo's best moments - https://t.co/i0kFfpv2hj
— Anfield HQ (@AnfieldHQ) June 10, 2016
Even fans of other clubs can’t but love the big Ivorian.
Kolo Toure played for Arsenal, City and Liverpool and I STILL like him
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) June 10, 2016
#LFC releases Kolo Toure. #kolotoure has been a fantastic professional everywhere he goes. #afc #MCFC #LFC pic.twitter.com/Bjubs0GxCn
— Folarin Olawale (@foliray) June 10, 2016
