Liverpool transfer news: Reds defender Brad Smith open to temporary switch from Anfield next season

Liverpool defender Brad Smith is open to leaving the club on a temporary basis next season despite breaking into the first-team under Jurgen Klopp during the 2015/16 campaign. The Australian defender joined the Reds as a 14-year-old and made his debut under former manager Brendan Rodgers during the 2013/14 campaign. But he has only made a further four appearances until he was named in the League Cup squad in December last year following which he appeared in the Europa League, FA Cup and Premier League making a total of 10 appearances with the first-team.

The left fullback position has been a problem area for Klopp, with Alberto Moreno coming under criticism for poor performances, while Joe Gomes was injured for most of the season. Liverpool have been linked with a move for Leicester youngster Ben Chilwell, and if he arrives it is unlikely Smith will get too many chances with the first-team.

The Australia international, who will line up against England on Friday (27 May), has indicated that he is willing to move away from the club on a temporary basis in order to continue his football development with another club – with regular first-team football being the priority – once he holds talks with Klopp during pre-season which gets underway in July.

"I've played 10 times this season. I'm enjoying my football and hopefully I can just keep it going. (Now) We'll play these (international) games, have a little bit of time off, go back for pre-season, stay fit and work hard and see what happens there really," Smith said, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.

"Hopefully do well at pre-season and stay at the club. But if not, speak to the manager and if he wants me to go out on loan and get experience I'm happy to do that as well."

The defender, meanwhile, has also reflected on the difficult time he went through during his contract wrangle with the club last year. Smith was out of contract until November following a stand-off but resolved it following the arrival of Klopp and is now tied to the club until the summer of 2019.

"I was keeping in contact with a few of the staff members at the club, I was training on my own, training with a few clubs and just keeping fit," he explained.

"Keeping in contract with the club and we managed to sort it out, and went back, signed the deal. The manager saw a liking in me and then went from there really."

"It was difficult time for me and my family but we're back from that now, It's been a great season, the manager's given me some chances and a few of the young boys as well," the Socceroos star added.