Joe McConnell
From a complete midfield overhaul last summer, to no movement this time around. Liverpool are yet to make a signing in Arne Slot’s first transfer window at the helm, but why?
The arrival of World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister and coveted Bundesliga star Dominik Szoboszlai, as well as Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo, piqued the interest of Liverpool fans just over a year ago, as the club revitalised its ageing midfield.
Long-serving players James Milner, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all left the club, making way for a new era at Anfield.
Many assumed that a similar recruitment policy would be implemented ahead of the 2024/25 season, in an attempt to provide Slot with enough backing to make his mark on the squad left by Jurgen Klopp.
However, as time passes and the August 30 transfer deadline approaches, Liverpool are yet to sign a deal.
Why?
So why haven’t they made their move yet? Melissa Reddy of Vscek expresses his opinion on the situation here:
In July, Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes provided an insight into the club’s thought process regarding this summer’s recruitment.
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Vscek’ Danyal Khan analyses why Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi won’t join Arne Slot’s Liverpool
There were three points worth noting: Arne Slot wanted to have the chance to carefully evaluate the entire squad, he expected activity to increase as August progressed and the crucial point was that Liverpool “will always be opportunistic if possible”.
The main possibilities explored certainly correspond to this last detail.
There was a move for Anthony Gordon for £75m when Newcastle were looking to get back into the PSR fold, with Joe Gomez moving in the opposite direction for £45m.
They looked at the situation surrounding Leny Yoro, who had a year left on his contract with Lille, and were encouraged to focus on Martin Zubimendi, whose contract with Real Sociedad included a release clause.
The above-mentioned opportunities were particular situations that would have nurtured Slot’s football and kept him in line with high-level politics, but none of them materialised.
Newcastle raised funds without having to move a major asset, Yoro’s price tag was too high (plus Manchester United had put themselves in pole position to take him if Real Madrid hadn’t insisted) and Zubimendi understandably reneged on his word to remain loyal to the club of his childhood.
Liverpool are the only Premier League club yet to make a permanent signing this summer, but it is instructive in the positions they want to strengthen, the profile they are looking for and the type of deal that best suits them.
Anthony Gordon’s ‘Zone Events’ for Newcastle United in 2023/24
It has become clear that Slot would prefer to have a technically competent number 6, who can control the game with the ball, for his “kill them with passes” principle rather than a destroyer or a runner.
It is the position with which he has had the most experience during pre-season, and it is also the one that Liverpool consider the least accessible on the market.
Slot has been working on an internal solution, which is thought to be Gravenberch deeper with Mac Allister and Szoboszlai ahead of him, if a high-quality stylistic fit can’t be found in the window. There are options for tinkering there.
Liverpool have always maintained that no salary is better than a bad salary and a forthcoming book by former director of research Ian Graham, How to Win the Premier League, sheds light on just how surgical the club can be.
The interest in Yoro shows that Liverpool are interested in a progressive centre-back with high potential, and Gordon is talking about adding a quality striker.
Although he was at his best on Newcastle’s left flank, where he was a nightmare for scorers given his ability to create play with both feet, running both inside and outside, Gordon was also used on the right, as a false nine, second striker and even as a number 8.
Is internal recruitment the priority?
What Liverpool want to do in the market cannot be separated from the main issue of the club: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are in the final year of their contracts.
This impacts both short and long term plans and there needs to be absolute clarity on what will happen in this regard as soon as possible.
Given his age, his uniqueness and his connection to the club, renewing Alexander-Arnold, who is much admired by Real, is a priority.
Liverpool have been hesitant to offer long-term contracts to 30-year-olds who already have a wealth of footballing experience under their belts, but Van Dijk and Salah remain key players.
It is worrying that Merseyside residents have put themselves in a situation where three of their transformers could go free and replacing all of them, or even more than one, in the same time frame would incur a considerable cost.
It is not far-fetched to conclude that part of Liverpool’s conservatism this summer revolves around what might happen next summer.
Liverpool’s Trey Nyoni celebrates with teammate Virgil van Dijk after scoring during pre-season
Replacing a major part of the team’s backbone will be a daunting and expensive challenge.
If all three players were to commit to the club for the future, it would have an impact on wages, but would allow recruitment to focus on adding depth to the squad, while also having time to find an elite centre-back and striker to replace Van Dijk and Salah.
If Alexander-Arnold is in it for the long haul, the question is in what capacity under Slot? That would determine whether funds are needed for a top-flight right-back or midfielder.
Ultimately, what Liverpool want and need to do revolves around the next steps they take with Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Van Dijk.
Arsenal and Liverpool met in the United States for a pre-season friendly last month
Hughes has inherited an unenviable task, due in large part to changes in his position in recent years.
Added to this was the dimension of appointing a new staff and a new team following the departure of Klopp and his staff.
This was never going to be the right summer for Liverpool to reshape their squad, with the number 6 being the big blind spot.
It has been a recurring problem, leading to failed moves for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia last summer.
Moises Caicedo Moves to Chelsea Despite Liverpool Interest
It is difficult to argue against adding a centre-back and left-back, especially if there are expenses involved, as well as an extra striker, given the injury history of the otherwise excellent Diogo Jota.
Meanwhile, Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, valued at more than £30m by Valencia, is under observation by the club.
Liverpool believe that more can be achieved from the current squad through training, there is still plenty of room for improvement and there are young talents who should have a clear path to the first team, such as Trey Nyoni.
However, it is difficult to imagine them being the only English top-flight team not to strengthen this summer, as further opportunities open up before the transfer window closes.
