The transition from Jürgen Klopp to Arne Slot has been surprisingly seamless at Anfield.
The former Feyenoord manager inherited a world-class team from his predecessor, but he faced the unenviable challenge of taking over from Liverpool’s most successful manager since Bob Paisley. For a manager who has yet to prove himself in the Premier League, this is a tall order.
However, the Dutchman performed his task brilliantly. He led the Reds to the summit of the Premier League and Champions League, while also qualifying them for the last four of the Carabao Cup.
Slot managed to oversee such rapid progress without the help of a huge budget. Liverpool only signed two players over the summer, one being a goalkeeper who was loaned out and the other being Federico Chiesa, acquired for €12 million, who rarely played this season.
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group may be keen to have a bumper season and could offer up a few signings in the January transfer window.
Here are the sectors Liverpool will want to target.
Liverpool don’t have many weak points, but one of them deserves to be strengthened: the left-back position. It’s a position that the Reds were able to ignore for a long time, such was the consistency and quality of Andy Robertson, who has racked up more than 300 appearances since joining the club in 2017.
However, the Scot has produced performances consistently below his best this season and there are concerns over his ability to mix with the best after a difficult few months. Robertson turns 31 in March and is unlikely to reclaim his tag as Europe’s best left-back.
Kostas Tsimikas has had an overall positive season so far, but he has proven to be an unconvincing option in the past. The Greek defender, who will be 29 at the end of the current season, is unlikely to be Robertson’s long-term successor.
Potential targets
Liverpool have often been linked with left-backs over the past year. Robertson’s decline began last season, but his difficulties in 2024/25 may force the Reds to turn to the market sooner rather than later.
Antonee Robinsonof Fulham, is one of the names being mooted for a move to Liverpool, with the USA international showing exactly what he can offer during a trip to Anfield in mid-December. The 27-year-old has hinted he could join Europe’s elite, provided his age is not a barrier.
Alphonso Davies is definitely a player Liverpool should follow. The Bayern Munich defender is at the end of his contract next summer and is expected to leave Bavaria. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are in the running.
Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolverhampton) and Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth) have both been associated with Anfield in the past, with the latter a particularly interesting target. Kerkez’s Hungarian compatriot Dominik Szoboszlai could certainly vouch for this transfer.
The defensive midfielder is a sector that Liverpool absolutely wanted to strengthen this summer. The Reds have never really replaced Fabinho since his departure two years ago and the choice of the best number six was debated throughout last season. In the end, it was Wataru Endo, who arrived to everyone’s surprise, who was chosen.
However, Slot, who was clearly not thrilled with the Japanese captain, rushed to strengthen the central axis in his first transfer window in charge of the team. Liverpool’s search for a new defensive midfielder ultimately failed, forcing Slot to get creative.
The Dutchman deployed compatriot Ryan Gravenberch as Liverpool’s deepest midfielder in a double pivot with Alexis Mac Allister, and the 22-year-old has done an outstanding job in this new role. While there is no need to replace the new defensive midfield gem, he may need some support for the final months of the season.
Potential targets
Martin Zubimendi was the man Liverpool were courting this summer, but the Real Sociedad midfielder spurned him. Liverpool are not the only club to have been spurned by the Euro 2024 winner, who is unlikely to appear on their radar this winter.
There is no guarantee that Liverpool will strengthen their midfield, of course, with Endo and Tyler Morton in reserve. But an experienced and competent acquirer could come in handy, as Edersonfrom Atalanta, who was the subject of numerous contacts during the summer.
Carlos Balebafrom Brighton & Hove Albion, is also said to be of interest to Liverpool after an impressive rise on the south coast. The 20-year-old would certainly fit the club’s recruitment criteria.
Darwin Nunez has been at the center of much discussion regarding Liverpool over the past two seasons. Arriving in 2022 for a significant sum, the Uruguayan struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League, alternating between the good and the bad.
It appears Liverpool could ultimately part ways with Nunez at the end of the season – barring a drastic turnaround during the second half of the campaign – or at least strengthen their forward line so as not to overly depend on the ardent South American.
Of course, the Reds would be happy to start Diogo Jota every week, as he remains Liverpool’s most natural finisher. But his injury problems have been ever-present since his arrival on Merseyside and he cannot be trusted to play 50-60 matches a season.
Potential targets
It would be remiss of Liverpool not to consider one of Europe’s most in-demand centre-forwards, Viktor Gyökeres. A January move seems unlikely for the Sporting CP star and Ruben Amorim’s presence at Manchester United could persuade the Swedish marksman to join the Reds’ rivals, but he is undoubtedly a talent of elite who would improve Slot’s team.
Marcus Thuramfrom Inter, is another powerful striker capable of making waves in the Premier League. The Frenchman has been tentatively linked with the Reds after dazzling in Italy, where he scored 13 goals and provided 13 assists as the Nerazzurri won Serie A in 2023/24.
Jonathan David is another talent to watch. The Lille and Canada striker is at the end of his contract next summer and could agree to a pre-contract with Liverpool during the winter transfer window. He scored 19 goals in Ligue 1 last season.
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