Liverpool have simply gained the Premier League title, equaling Manchester United’s document of being referred to 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 asserting his departure when his contract expires on the finish of the season.
A lot has been mentioned in regards to the membership supporters booing the 26-year-old right-back through the recreation towards Arsenal a few days in the past, however whereas the fan base and the media debate that challenge, the speedy concern for the membership needs to be shifting ahead. Step one will, after all, be planning for the summer season switch window and discovering methods to strengthen and rejuvenate the squad.
The roles of defence chief and essential attacking risk have, in the interim, 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 season, and although no speedy replacements are vital, figuring out long-term successors actually wouldn’t go amiss.
Moreover, a number of fringe gamers haven’t precisely lined 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 high 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 effectively.
A number of names have been talked about as potential Liverpool targets this summer season. The rumours round Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong are very loud in the mean time, with most journalists anticipating a deal to undergo. That ought to cowl the changing of Alexander-Arnold. Liverpool have additionally been credited with robust curiosity in Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, although it’s been some time since any developments on that entrance have been reported.
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The newest participant with whose representatives the Merseysiders have reportedly met is one other Leverkusen star – Florian Wirtz. With attacking midfield not thought of a precedence at this level and experiences suggesting his companies would value effectively over €100 million, this can be an odd one, however at simply 22, the Germany worldwide would absolutely add nice high quality for years to return.
Liverpool, nevertheless, don’t count on Wirtz to depart his homeland. They consider he’ll both keep put or be a 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 yr of contract, and with Actual Madrid mentioned to be circling like vultures once more, there’s a rising chance for the Alexander-Arnold downside to repeat itself subsequent yr.
That is clearly a matter Liverpool must resolve right away and present willpower. The 25-year-old has been provided a brand new deal a while in the past – he has mentioned so himself – and presuming the phrases on that provided 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 will be keen to pay an acceptable price for his companies this yr.
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 smart transfer anyway. Presumably for that actual motive, Liverpool are within the race for Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen. At this level, it appears like a sophisticated deal to get achieved with Actual Madrid as soon as once more responsible, but it surely’s been mentioned that if that transfer doesn’t occur, the 20-year-old would look to remain in England with Liverpool as his most popular 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 type a terrific partnership when the time for the captain to take a step again ultimately comes.
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With all the pieces taken under consideration, on high 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 season window for Liverpool, with solely a striker remaining to finish the incoming enterprise.
Let’s see what truly occurs, although.
