Liverpool have simply gained the Premier League title, equaling Manchester United’s document of being known as champions of England 20 occasions, however the emotions of pleasure they need to be experiencing proper now have considerably been dimmed by Trent Alexander-Arnold saying his departure when his contract expires on the finish of the season.
A lot has been stated concerning the membership supporters booing the 26-year-old right-back through the sport towards Arsenal a few days in the past, however whereas the fan base and the media debate that problem, the quick concern for the membership needs to be transferring ahead. Step one will, after all, be planning for the summer time switch window and discovering methods to strengthen and rejuvenate the squad.
The roles of defence chief and fundamental attacking risk have, in the meanwhile, been settled as Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah signed new two-year offers. Nonetheless, there’s no hiding from the truth that the pair of them will flip 34 and 33, respectively, this summer time, and although no quick replacements are obligatory, figuring out long-term successors definitely wouldn’t go amiss.
Moreover, a number of fringe gamers haven’t precisely coated themselves in glory when given an opportunity. Head coach Arne Slot himself has admitted that Harvey Elliott, for instance, hasn’t hit the degrees anticipated, and there’s been a lot noise over the proclivity of Darwin Nunez to waste clear-cut probabilities. It’s been three full seasons for the Uruguayan striker at Liverpool now, and it’s change into painfully clear that he merely isn’t the No. 9 a membership aiming to stay on the prime of the sport wants.
Additionally, Alexander-Arnold’s imminent departure will clearly go away a gap within the squad, with Conor Bradley remaining the one designated right-back, and the drop in type of Andy Robertson this season has additionally highlighted the necessity for a brand new left-back as nicely.
A number of names have been talked about as potential Liverpool targets this summer time. The rumours round Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong are very loud in the meanwhile, with most journalists anticipating a deal to undergo. That ought to cowl the changing of Alexander-Arnold. Liverpool have additionally been credited with sturdy curiosity in Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, although it’s been some time since any developments on that entrance have been reported.
The most recent participant with whose representatives the Merseysiders have reportedly met is one other Leverkusen star – Florian Wirtz. With attacking midfield not thought-about a precedence at this level and experiences suggesting his providers would value nicely over €100 million, this can be a wierd one, however at simply 22, the Germany worldwide would absolutely add nice high quality for years to come back.
Liverpool, nevertheless, don’t anticipate Wirtz to depart his homeland. They imagine he’ll both keep put or be part of Bayern Munich, however they’re nonetheless able to pounce ought to his intentions change at any second.
However all that apart now, Liverpool’s best downside is the state of affairs with Ibrahima Konate. The French centre-back, who has established himself firmly because the first-choice companion to Van Dijk within the coronary heart of defence, shall be getting into the ultimate 12 months of contract, and with Actual Madrid stated to be circling like vultures once more, there’s a rising risk for the Alexander-Arnold downside to repeat itself subsequent 12 months.
That is clearly a matter Liverpool have to resolve immediately and present dedication. The 25-year-old has been supplied a brand new deal a while in the past – he has stated so himself – and presuming the phrases on that supplied deal are affordable from each factors of view, the logical plan of action could be to inform Konate to both signal, or search a membership that might be prepared to pay an appropriate price for his providers this 12 months.
And if the latter proves the participant’s selection, a brand new identify within the squad will clearly be wanted, and including one other centre-back able to difficult for a beginning spot could be a clever transfer anyway. Presumably for that actual purpose, Liverpool are within the race for Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen. At this level, it seems to be like a sophisticated deal to get finished with Actual Madrid as soon as once more guilty, but it surely’s been stated that if that transfer doesn’t occur, the 20-year-old would look to remain in England with Liverpool as his most well-liked vacation spot, despite the fact that Arsenal and Chelsea need him too.
However by no means thoughts the switch hypothesis, signing Huijsen would absolutely make good sense for Liverpool, no matter Konate’s selection. If the Frenchman leaves, Huijsen has confirmed able to step in with nice performances within the Premier League this season. If not, the 2 of them would compete for the spot beside Van Dijk, and will kind an awesome partnership when the time for the captain to take a step again ultimately comes.
With all the things taken under consideration, on prime of the upcoming arrival of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia, signing the quartet of Frimpong, Wirtz, Kerkez and Huijsen would virtually make an ideal summer time window for Liverpool, with solely a striker remaining to finish the incoming enterprise.
Let’s see what really occurs, although.
