Liverpool has just one game remaining in the 2024/25 season and it has known that it would be league champion for months. But that means that plans behind the scenes are just about to accelerate.
Clearly, as Arne Slot has said consistently, it will take a high level of player for Liverpool to improve on what it already has at its disposal. The Reds are champions of the Premier League for a reason, after all, even if they have only picked up one point in nine.
“I’ve said many times already that we, as a club, are very happy with the players we’ve got,” Slot said on Friday. “Part of it is our decision but in some situations players that haven’t played a lot are not looking forward to another season not playing a lot.
“So, there’s always an ongoing process and we have to make sure that we are prepared if we can strengthen the squad. This club has always done that, no matter if we have 19, 20, 21 or 22 players. If we feel we can strengthen the squad, we do so.”
It will take a top-class player to come in and make Liverpool even better, but that is not to say that the Reds cannot do just that.
“It’s difficult to strengthen this squad because there’s a reason why we won the league — because we have so many great players,” Slot insisted. “It’s an ongoing process that we are talking about. I think this club has shown so many times in the past that they will make the right decisions.”
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Jeremie Frimpong appears to be edging closer to a move to Anfield after he completed the first part of his medical checks over the weekend. That would be an excellent start with Trent Alexander-Arnold heading to Real Madrid.
And Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is also said to be under consideration for a possible transfer deal. The Hungarian is valued at around $60 million (£45 million), which would be a substantial sum to pay for a full-back.
With those two players, Liverpool would improve on one flank — the left — and mitigate, to some degree, for the loss of a unique talent on the other. But what else is needed?
It remains true that Liverpool could do with another number nine coming in, while it was suggested by the BBC yesterday that Manchester City has pulled out of the race for Florian Wirtz. Liverpool.com has already reported that Bayern Munich is viewed as the favorite to snap up the Germany number 10, but the Reds do hold an interest.
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Whether it is Wirtz or someone else, a fresh injection of quality in the final third to take the goalscoring and creating burden off Mohamed Salah would be a big advantage.
Federico Chiesa got a go ahead of Darwin Nunez, with Diogo Jota left at home against Brighton, but the Italian didn’t exactly light things up. That, alongside the full-back slots, are obvious areas where upgrades can be found.
Quite simply, a number nine is a must. Wirtz can play there and others will be assessed, with the final target depending mainly on what kind of player Slot wants for the role, in addition to who is realistically available on the market.
Lining up with a back four of Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk and Kerkez would be very exciting, with the existing midfield trio in front of them. Salah and one of Cody Gakpo or Luis Diaz being joined by a top-class number nine would complete the dream line-up as Liverpool looks to retain its title. And that is far from unrealistic.
