Liverpool is eager to acquire four players this summer to strengthen Arne Slot’s team for the upcoming Premier League season.
While many of Liverpool’s rivals have already made moves in the transfer market this summer, Liverpool has yet to sign anyone. Manchester City has acquired Brazilian winger Savinho, and Arsenal has signed Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna.
Manchester United has brought in Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, and is also pursuing Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. However, Liverpool has not yet entered the market, though that may soon change.
According to The Independent, Liverpool is aiming to make four signings this summer, targeting a center-back, a defensive midfielder, and possibly two wide forwards.
The need for the first two positions is particularly clear. With Joel Matip departing on a free transfer after an ACL injury, Liverpool currently has four fit center-backs: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, and Jarell Quansah. Of these, Quansah is still developing at the senior level, and Konate has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons.
Liverpool lacks a left-footed center-back, which is why they were reportedly interested in Riccardo Calafiori before he chose Arsenal. Last summer, Liverpool also made several attempts to sign a defensive midfielder as part of their engine room overhaul but failed to persuade Romeo Lavia or Moises Caicedo to choose Anfield over Chelsea. This led to the acquisition of Wataru Endo, seen as a temporary solution.
However, the most intriguing aspect of Liverpool’s reported four-man shortlist is their potential interest in adding two wide forwards this summer, despite already being well-stocked in those positions. On the left, they have Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, and Diogo Jota, while on the right, they have Mohamed Salah, Harvey Elliott, and promising youngster Ben Doak.
If Arne Slot views Elliott as better suited for a central role rather than as a winger, pursuing another wide forward would make sense. Liverpool has been linked with several attackers this summer, including Anthony Gordon and Takefusa Kubo, who are both players the club admires.
Liverpool.com notes that Liverpool’s interest in acquiring a defender and a defensive midfielder is expected. The club sought an elite defensive midfielder last summer and has been connected with several center-backs this transfer window.
In attack, pursuing a wide forward, especially one who can play on the right, is logical. However, it will be intriguing to see if Liverpool also targets another central striker this summer. Darwin Nunez’s inconsistency and Cody Gakpo’s strong performances in the European Championship suggest that Gakpo is more effective on the left wing than as a central striker.
