Liverpool may be on the cusp of winning the Premier League title, but preparations for the summer transfer window are already underway as head coach Arne Slot looks to strengthen his side ahead of his second full season with the club.
Slot was granted just two new transfers last summer, but goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was loaned back to Valencia as part of the agreement, and Federico Chiesa has been a squad player since his arrival from Juventus. No acquisitions were made during the January transfer window, but Slot will be given adequate funds to leave his mark on the squad this summer.
Liverpool’s priority this season was to extend the contracts of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, though nothing was formally agreed until April. Salah and Van Dijk have both committed to Liverpool, while Alexander-Arnold looks set to leave on a free transfer and join Real Madrid.
Should Alexander-Arnold leave, Slot will need to sign a replacement to rival Conor Bradley in the right-back position, and another full-back is required as Andy Robertson was a shadow of his former self this season. Offensively, Darwin Nunez is expected to be sold this summer, meaning that another forward addition is crucial.
With Liverpool’s Premier League title almost wrapped up, the hierarchy will be focusing on transfers from now until the summer transfer window ends on Sept. 1. Here, Liverpool.com brings you the latest news and gossip surrounding Anfield.
Liverpool told to replace Darwin Nunez with Ollie Watkins
With it looking likely that Nunez will leave Liverpool this summer, it’s expected that Slot will sign a replacement. It’s believed that Aston Villa could replace Ollie Watkins after he was linked with a January exit, and former Manchester United scout Mick Brown is convinced that Liverpool will lead the chase.
In an interview with Football Insider, Brown said: “Liverpool have won the league without much pressure. Arsenal fell away and Man City have fallen off a cliff, that won’t be the case next season.
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“So they know they will need better options in certain positions, and one of those positions is a centre-forward, because the manager isn’t happy with his options. They have a few ideas about which players they’re going to look at, and Ollie Watkins is one. Liverpool will be interested in him.
“When you’re Premier League champions, you always have the upper hand when it comes to transfers, particularly if you can offer a place in the starting XI. If you offered Watkins the chance to become the starting striker for Liverpool he’d want to make that move.”
Liam Delap available for a discounted fee
Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap is expected to leave the club this summer, with Liverpool, Arsenal, and Man Utd all heavily linked with the 22-year-old. Delap signed a five-year contract with Ipswich last summer, but has a release clause in his deal which has been lowered after relegation back to the Championship was confirmed on Saturday.
Delap already had a $53.25 million release clause in his contract, but that’s now dropped to $40 million as per the terms of the agreement. Delap scored 12 Premier League goals this season during a breakthrough campaign, but it wasn’t enough to help Ipswich avoid relegation.
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Ipswich’s fate was sealed following a 3-0 loss to Newcastle United, but head coach Kieran McKenna remains hopeful that Delap will remain with the club. “Liam’s focus is still here, and finishing the season as strong as what it will be,” McKenna said of Delap’s future.
“I think there’s certainly a possibility that he’s an Ipswich player next year.” Delap was sold to Ipswich by Manchester City in a deal worth up to $26 million on July 13, 2024, following an impressive loan spell at Hull City in the Championship.
