Liverpool will have conducted significant business in the transfer window by the time their title defence in 2025-26 gets underway, Reds expert David Lynch has insisted.
The Merseysiders are set to take on Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, and but they head into the clash as champions having beaten the Gunners to the title with four games to spare.
However, while Liverpool have experienced success on the pitch, they will likely have to be active in the transfer market given there are question marks about a number of players in the squad.
When asked by Sports Mole if fans can expect the ownership to hand Slot a summer warchest, Lynch claimed that supporters are likely to see several changes to the team, saying: “It seems that’s the noise coming out of the club. I had a conversation with someone a couple of weeks ago at Liverpool, and they’re not playing that down [whereas they] usually would be all about expectation management.
“There’s an acceptance that it has to be a big summer because of factors outside of Liverpool’s control, which includes the fact that there are so many players with doubts over their heads who could be sold. Once you sort out the positions you definitely need, which are left-back and centre-forward, you’re probably going to end up having to do a lot more business because of players departing.
“The fact that they’re going into that window knowing they’ve got the Premier League title in the bag, they can say to any new player ‘this new manager is just as good as the last one. We just won the title. We want to do more. Do you want to come and be part of it?’ How easy is that to sell if you’re the sporting director? It looks like a big summer of change, which is exciting and interesting.”
Creator Trent Alexander-Arnold has already announced that he will leave Anfield at the end of the season upon the expiry of his contract, and Slot may lose several other members of his title-winning squad.
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Which forwards should leave the club?
Striker Darwin Nunez has often been linked with a move away from Merseyside, while winger Luis Diaz has also faced criticism at times for his performances in front of goal.
However, the usually reliable Diogo Jota has only found the back of the net six times in the league this term, and he has struggled to get the better of opposition defenders.
Liverpool have six senior forwards on their books but Lynch revealed that they could head into next season with just five when he told Sports Mole: “You can pretty much guarantee with Nunez, money will come for him – that interest was there in January and that that will come back. He’s a good age. He’s not had injuries. The desire to sign him will be there. We can put him in there.
“But beyond that, there’s interest from Saudi in Jota. He might feel that he’s ready to go because he’s not quite been there this season in the Premier League, and he does look like he’s lost. Then Chiesa is pretty much nailed on to leave as well because he’s going to want to play football. There’ll be a market for him in Italy.
“Luis Diaz has interest from Saudi, interest from clubs on the continent as well. That’s a lot of doubts over a lot of players in the front line. Thankfully, they’ve got Salah’s contract nailed down and Gakpo is absolutely fine. He will definitely be there, but they’re not going to want to sell four forwards and have to replace them. I think they might go down to five forwards next season.”
Federico Chiesa was Slot’s only signing in the previous summer transfer window but he has not started a single Premier League game for the Reds, and it would be surprising if he was kept as sixth choice.
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Why timing will be key to sales
While doubts exist about the futures of numerous members of the squad, it remains to be seen if Liverpool can afford to lose so many stars in one window given they would likely have to replace them.
That could force Slot and the Liverpool hierarchy to make judgement calls about which players they should let go should suitors come in.
Lynch suggested that outgoings will almost certainly depend on the timings of offers, telling Sports Mole: “If money for Jota comes in early, if they can sell Nunez, if Chiesa can get a move, it makes sense to keep someone like Diaz around for another year. I don’t think Liverpool would be desperate to offer him a contract.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he got denied a move on the basis that Liverpool would prefer to sell others if money comes in for them at the right time, but there’s so much up in the air. It’s really difficult to judge and hard to offer guarantees. A lot of it will come down to timing. If Liverpool can put themselves in a position where they can limit the turnover, they would prefer that route.
“Liverpool in an ideal situation would get their business done in late July rather than August. Their ideal situation going into the first game of next season [could be] a Gakpo, Diaz, Salah front line and two new guys on the bench who you can slowly integrate into the team. That would be the ideal situation because you’re going to defend the title, you need some continuity.”
Slot must be cautious about potentially causing upheaval within his squad by sanctioning exits given it could take new signings time to settle into the team, which could be detrimental to his side’s title defence.
