Liverpool look set to be fairly active in the summer’s transfer window following the appointment of Arne Slot as the Reds’ first ever head coach.
Departing boss Jurgen Klopp has overseen a revamp of the club’s midfield and attack over the past two and a half years, but despite winning the League Cup and finishing third in his final season in charge, an underwhelming finish to the campaign reiterated the need for Liverpool to strengthen their squad.
The Reds’ woes in front of goal during the final two months of the season prompted suggestions they could look to strengthen their attack. With Mohamed Salah set to turn 32 this summer and out of contract next year, a long-term replacement will emerge on their to-do list sooner rather than later regardless.
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While Liverpool completed an £150m midfield revamp last summer, bringing in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch, they arguably need to sign a world class holding midfielder, with the likes of Declan Rice and Rodri making a decisive impact in the role for Arsenal and Man City respectively.
Endo was a left-field bargain signing from VfB Stuttgart after the Reds missed out on the likes of Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Andre Trindade. But despite the 31-year-old being a successful arrival, he was only a short-term fix.
Elsewhere, Liverpool are expected to be in the market for a new back-up goalkeeper. While Alisson Becker looks set to stay put at Anfield despite interest from Saudi Arabia, Adrian remains out of contract this summer while it seems inconceivable that Caoimhin Kelleher would commit to another season as back-up only on Merseyside – especially with a return to the Champions League limiting his game-time further.
But it is perhaps at centre-back where the Reds are most likely to strengthen, after confirming that Joel Matip would leave the club at the end of his contract this summer.
Liverpool were initially in the market for a new defender last year, only to reprioritise their midfield revamp following the unexpected exits of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia. Such a decision was partly made following an impressive pre-season from Jarell Quansah, with the 21-year-old going on to enjoy a superb breakthrough campaign as he finished the season as first-choice for the Reds and earned a maiden England call-up.
But despite his presence, Slot will likely still need to strengthen at the heart of defence following Matip’s departure. After all, Liverpool still need a long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk, who will turn 33 in July and is out of contract next summer, while Ibrahima Konate’s injury record remains a concern and Joe Gomez spent the majority of this campaign at full-back.
The Reds have been linked with a plethora of centre-backs in recent weeks and months as a result, including Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Willian Pacho, and Lille’s Leny Yoro.
Admittedly, such links at this stage are just speculation, but one defender Liverpool have been linked with recently might have just edged closer to a summer transfer.
Marc Guehi has regularly been linked with the Reds in recent months, with the Telegraph reporting in March that the Crystal Palace defender was attracting interest from both Liverpool and Manchester United.
Named in England’s preliminary squad for Euro 2024, the 23-year-old’s future perhaps won’t be resolved until later in the summer. But the Eagles are aware of interest in Guehi as he enters the final two years of his contract, and are prepared in case he moves on.
The Premier League season might have only finished on Sunday, but Palace are already closing in on their first signing of the summer and a potential replacement for Guehi.
They have reportedly agreed a €14m deal with Real Betis for Chadi Riad, with the 20-year-old set to undergo a medical next week and sign a five-year contract with the club.
The Morocco international joined Betis on loan from Barcelona last July and impressed as he made 30 appearances for the La Liga outfit. Boasting the option to make Riad’s move permanent for around £2.5m, they have done so with the view of quickly selling on the 20-year-old for a considerable profit.
Riad’s arrival will cast fresh doubt over Guehi’s future at Palace, though, given the interest in the centre-back. And as Liverpool weigh up potential centre-back signings, they will be aware that one reported target might just have become more obtainable.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
