0 Comments
The Premier League season is rapidly approaching it’s finish, and with that the summer transfer window looms in the distance in what will be Arne Slot’s third transfer window as Liverpool’s head coach.
Last summer, Italian winger Federico Chiesa joined the club for just £12.5 million, and Giorgi Mamardashvili joined the club before immediately getting loaned back to Valencia following a very impressive Euro 2024 campaign with Georgia.
Despite looking likely to lift their 20th league title this May, there are still many problems in this Liverpool squad that Slot will be looking to amend this summer as he continues to make this squad his own and less alike the side he inherited from Jurgen Klopp last July.
Today, I’m going to play sporting director, analysing who’s potentially surplus to requirements at Anfield and who could be walking through the gates at the Axa training centre next.
Contract problems
At time of writing, there have been no contract extensions for arguably Liverpool’s three best players, Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. All three are undeniably sensational players, constantly in conversations when the best players in the world in their respective positions are discussed.
Liverpool have seemingly stalled on their contracts all season, as news on any renewals remains vague. All three have taken varying approaches to the media’s questions on their future, all utilising different tactics to dismiss speculation: Mo Salah uses emotional rhetoric to remind those at the club and those following it that he hasn’t signed anything yet, and he’s set to leave the club, making it sound like it’s against his will; Van Dijk has been open and honest, telling it how it is and firmly and continuously stating that he hasn’t been offered anything; and Trent Alexander-Arnold emits radio silence, with very little being said about his future.
The Englishman’s approach is seemingly because he’s the one most likely to leave the club even if a contract extension is presented to him. Real Madrid have constantly been linked with him, and when the difficulty of declining a move to the Spanish capital is partnered with his close friendship to Madrid’s star midfielder Jude Bellingham and his public ambitions of willing a Balon D’Or are assessed, it’s heavily likely the scouser will depart L4 this summer.
Alternatively, Virgil Van Dijk has made his love for the club apparent this season, and has clearly expressed a desire to stay, especially as he retains the club captaincy and continues to perform as one of if not the best centre half in world football. Mohamed Salah has also indicated a desire to remain at the club, as he rightly feels he can still perform at the top level. His numbers and performances this season clearly show he’s more than capable of staying there.
In this scenario, I’m going to imagine Van Dijk and Salah remain at Anfield for the 25/26 season, with Alexander-Arnold departing his boyhood club for Los Blancos, who could well be European Champions once more by the time he arrives there.
The Striker Problem
Despite being the league’s top scorers by far this season, currently on 69 goals scored in the league and 13 ahead of second placed Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, the options up front for Liverpool have been few and far between, and have struggled to impress this season.
Diogo Jota has contributed eight goals this season, with Darwin Nunez on one fewer on seven. This poor return has led Luis Diaz to pick up minutes as a false nine for the Reds this season, leading many to believe one of the “out-and-out” strikers at Arne Slot’s disposal could leave this summer.
Nunez has never truly clicked at Anfield despite an excellent 23/24 season, where he finished on 31 goals and assists. The Uruguayan came with a large price tag, which helped win him over with Liverpool fans quickly as they not only wanted a quality out and out striker to compete for Roberto Firmino for a few years, but were also excited to see FSG truly splash out on a player with lots of potential. However, his wastefulness, poor decision making and lack of technical ability quickly outweighed his work ethic and pace in the eyes of the Anfield faithful, and while chants for his efforts and goals continue to ring out in L4, few truly see the 25-year-old as the future of Liverpool’s frontline.
Diogo Jota has been troubled with injuries in recent years, facing problems with his calves, ligaments and a few muscle tears. This has seen the Portuguese forward only be available on a sporadic basis in recent seasons, and has unfortunately seen him become a shell of the player he used to be. In years prior, Jota’s game was characterised by his agility, goal-scoring nous and tremendous well-roundedness. Today, there’s little energy or threat about the 28-year-old, as the injuries seem to have taken their toll on the former Wolves attacker.
This has led many to believe that one, if not both, could be set to leave Liverpool this summer, as Arne Slot looks to find the true number nine to lead his forward line, much like he had in Santiago Gimenez at Feyenoord in previous years (the Mexican now leads the line at AC Milan).
Liverpool have consistently been linked to Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, who would surely be a dream target for all sides in Europe after another excellent season on Tyneside. However, at just 25 with a long-term contract running until 2028, Newcastle could demand a fee far higher than £100 million for the Swede, a fee the premier-league champions are unlikely to match.
Instead, I’m going to suggest the Reds pursue a much more attainable young striker that could easily be moulded into an Isak-style player. Liam Delap has scored 10 goals in his first ever Premier League season, acting as the shining star in an Ipswich side that looks destined to return to the Championship. The Athletic report that Delap has a £40 million buy back clause Manchester City can exercise this summer- if they choose not to, it’s expected that will be Ipswich’s asking price, especially if they get relegated.
Delap has great instinct in front of goal, and even in a side where he’s had fairly limited service has still managed to hit double figures for goals at the age of 22. The former Hill striker has great strength, pace and work ethic that means he could excel at Anfield if the Reds took a chance on him.
A much more impressive and recognisable name is Viktor Gyokeres. After excelling at Coventry in the championship between 2020-2023, the Swede earned a move to Sporting CP, where under the likes of Ruben Amroim and now Rui Borges he’s become one of Europe’s most prolific strikers, scoring 57 goals in his last 2 seasons in Lisbon.
With such impressive stats and coming into his prime aged 26 (soon ton be 27), it’s expected Sporting would also run up a high price, but reports suggest that the former Brighton striker could be available for £60-70 million this summer, a similar fee the Reds payed for Darwin Nunez three summers ago. Gyokeres is a very similar profile to Delap, as his game is characterised by his elite athleticism and phenomenal clinicality, but with a far superior goal record, Liverpool should keep lots of tabs on Sporting’s #9.
Replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold
In this recent days, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the wheels are finally turning on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid, as the right-back is expected to leave his boyhood club after lifting the Premier League title in May, leaving his role as vice-captain before heading to Spain to surely win countless La Liga medals.
For Trent, it’s the opportunity to play at the largest club in world football, where a rich tapestry of success is waiting for him at the Santiago Bernabéu. Alongside him will be the world’s best like Vincius Jr, Kylian Mbappe and close friend Jude Bellingham as a new evolution of Galácticos take centre stage in the Spanish capital. For Madrid, club legend Dani Carvajal will be returning from an ACL injury this summer, and at the age of 33 may find it difficult to return to the levels that has seen him play an integral part to Real Madrid’s domestic success and European dominance in the past decade.
Despite past treatments of club legends like Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Gareth Bale where all were axed from the club despite their monumental contributions to it, it’s unlikely Carvajal will be forced out of Real this summer despite his contract expiring this summer. Rather, the 25/26 season could be the passing of the torch season, where under Carvajal’s wing, Alexander-Arnold can learn what it takes to be a Real Madrid player and how to perform to the highest level in one of the heaviest jerseys in world football.
These leaves an almost impossible task for Slot this summer- replacing the seemingly irreplaceable. It’s difficult to suggest there are many right-backs in world football that are better than Alexander-Arnold at the moment, let alone ones that would be easy to acquire this season. Reports suggest that Slot trusts talented prospect Conor Bradley to step into the role, despite being just 21 (turning 22 this summer).
Bradley has been a cult hero at Anfield since breaking into the first team last season after a superb 22/23 season at Bolton, where he won all three of their player awards at the end of the season. The Northern Irish international is a consistent threat when he goes forward, averaging 4.21 progressive carriers per 90 this season, but also provides a steeliness at the full back position that means Slot has a very well rounded young player on his hands.
However, injuries to his hamstring twice this season have seen him unavailable more than the Dutchman would have wished for. This is why, while he may be trusted with the responsibility of being the first choice right back next season, he cannot be trusted to play there all season. A lack of any other right backs in the squad apart from forgotten talent Calvin Ramsey- who has failed to impress in the championship and in Scotland this year at Kilmarnock- means Liverpool will want to dip into the market for a new rotational option down the right.
Givario Read has broke into the Feyenoord side this season, impressing at right-back at just 18, turning 19 in June. The full back, who’s started the most in that position for De club van het volk, has contributed six assists this season, displaying his impressive attacking ability. Under the wing of former Feyenoord boss Slot, a move to Liverpool could be what Read needs to take the next steps in his career.
The more experienced option could see the Reds pursue versatile Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters. The 27-year-old has bags of experience in English football, racking up 142 Premier League appearances throughout his career. Unlike Read, Walker-Peter’s contract expires in June, and a deal here could see one right back leave for free and another one enter. Despite Southampton’s impending relegation, Walker-Peter has once again been one of the only positives about the side, and could offer some great competition for Bradley next season.
Another centre-half
Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté have been imperial for Liverpool at the back this season, continuing to build on an incredible partnership and cementing themselves as one of the best in Europe. However, Konaté struggles from recurring injury problems that denies him the ability to play every match for Liverpool, and Van Dijk simply cannot play every game despite his captaincy and immense fitness levels. Their understudies, club veteran Joe Gomez and newcomer Jarell Quansah, have provided inept depth the position a side like Liverpool need.
Gomez joined Liverpool in summer 2015 from Charlton Athletic for just £3.5 million, an investment that has certainly been returned, playing an integral part to the Liverpool side that won the 2019/20 Premier League season partnering Van Dijk the most of any of the other centre-halves Liverpool had at the time (including Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren). Quansah came through Liverpool’s academy, joining the club aged five before signing his first professional deal in 2021. After a loan spell to Bristol Rovers in the second half of the 2022/23 season, Quansah joined the Liverpool first team in the summer of 2023, before breaking through in the 2023/24 season where he made 17 appearances.
It was Quansah who partnered Van Dijk on the first day of the Premier League season against Ipswich Town, seemingly showing he was the one who got the nod from Slot originally. However, he was hooked at half-time for Konaté, and the Dutchman hasn’t looked back since, only giving Quansah 292 Premier League minutes this season. Similarly, Gomez has also been unable to get near the starting 11, struggling with two hamstring injuries this season that has seen him play just 876 minutes this season across all competitions.
The latter of the two turns 28 this May, and as recurring injuries burden what should be the prime of his career, Liverpool may be tempted to cash in this summer and part ways with a player who is undeniably a cult hero in the eyes of the fans and may opt to bring someone in who’s slightly more reliable and slightly younger, potentially more in the model of Virgil Van Dijk.
An obvious elect for the position is Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, who has a reported £50 million release clause in his contract available o be activated this summer. The Spanish international joined the Cherries from Juventus last summer for just £15 million, but has been one of the standout performers under Andoni Iraola on the south coast this season. Huijsen possesses many similarities to Van Dijk, offering great height and immense game-reading abilities off the ball whilst also offering lots on the ball also, averaging 4.46 progressive passes per 90 this season.
However, despite his clear potential, Huijsen has only played one Premier League season, and may not have the ability to step up to a big six level after just one season in the league. Someone with much more experience that may also be acquirable this summer is Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, who has been linked away with a move from Selhurst Park since his stand out performances at Euro 2024 next to John Stones. The former Chelsea centre half, who has been with Palace since 2021, has impressed for the Eagles since cementing himself in the starting XI and has captained his side on multiple occasions this season in the absence of Joel Ward.
The acquisition of Guehi may cost Liverpool a pretty penny, as transfer speculation suggests Palace will command a similar fee for the 24-year-old. Last summer, Palace rejected a £70 million bid from Tottenham Hotspur for him, and reports suggest they will hold him to a similar price this summer after another excellent season in South London.
This may lead the Reds to pursue Huijsen, who could be moulded into a Van Dijk-style player at the age of just 19, though being 24 years old is not exactly an old player. Today, I’m going to suggest Huijsen should be the player Liverpool pursue, even if they will face competition from some of Europe’s best, like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich who have been linked with the player in recent weeks.
Any other business
The summer promises more departures on permanent sales, as players like Caoimhin Kelleher, Wataro Endo and Kostas Tsimikas get linked away from the club in pursuit of more first team football.
Kelleher joined Liverpool aged 16 in Summer 2015, where he spent time in the academy before signing his first professional contract in 2019. The Irish shot-stopper broke through in the 2021/22 season, where he was elected as the new cup ‘keeper ahead of Spanish veteran Adrian and helped Liverpool to a Carabao Cup and FA Cup double. Since then, he’s firmly remained Liverpool’s number two, acting as a fitting deputy to Alisson. However, as he continues to prove his quality, it’s clear a player of his quality would seek a move away to become a firm number one elsewhere.
A potential departure was ramped up last summer, when after an impressive season at Valencia and playing a key role in Georgia’s Euro 2024 campaign, Liverpool captured the signature of Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is set to come to Anfield this summer after another season on loan at Valencia. This is why it could be best for all parties if Kelleher departs Anfield this summer, with the likes of Newcastle, Tottenham and Bournemouth pursue his services.
Elsewhere, with the pursuit of a new left back seeming likely, it suggests one of Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas could depart the club. Robertson is a club legend at Liverpool, revolutionising the left-back role under Jurgen Klopp and picking up the captaincy of his nation during his stint at Anfield. This is why, despite Robertson’s clear regression this season, it seems more likely 28-year-old Kostas Tsimikas could be the one to leave the club this summer. His age means he’s more likely to get a better fee than 31-year-old Robertson, and given his experience elsewhere in Europe in his career at the likes of Olympiakos in Greece and Willem in the Netherlands, he could attract more suitors.
Wataro Endo joined Liverpool in summer 2023, initially acting as a stop-gap at the DM role in midfield alongside new signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. Given his age, turning 32 last February, Endo was always going to be a short term fix in the role for the Reds; but since his arrival, his elite work rate and wonderful intelligence has led to a cult hero status amongst most fans, with many clamouring against his departure anytime soon. This season, he’s taken more of a back seat as Ryan Gravenberch dominates the DM position in Arne Slot’s midfield, but has still filled in brilliantly in midfield and in the backline when called upon. This is why I’m going to suggest he remains in Merseyside this summer, regardless of who comes knocking.
