Liverpool Transfer DealSheet: Centre-back and wide attacker prioritised; Diaz uncertainty (2024)

For the first time since summer 2015, Liverpool face a transfer window without Jurgen Klopp.

Arne Slot, the club’s new head coach, officially began work on Saturday and will not want to waste any time implementing his own style and system and finding out which of the club’s players fit into his vision.

It also signalled the beginning of a new-look football operations setup, with Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes both starting their new roles as owner Fenway Sports Group’s (FSG) chief executive of football and Liverpool’s sporting director respectively.

It is not expected to be an extremely busy summer at Anfield, given Slot inherits a strong foundation, but there are areas of the squad that could be improved.

What positions are Liverpool looking at this summer?

Slot was left a young, talented squad that has plenty of depth in most areas, so major surgery is not required.

Joel Matip’s departure at the end of his contract leaves a hole at centre-back, an area Liverpool considered strengthening last summer. They still have strong options available in Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez alongside Jarell Quansah, the 21-year-old academy graduate who impressed last season after breaking into the first-team squad, but it is an area that needs reinforcing.

Van Dijk’s future remains unresolved, with the captain having only one year remaining on his contract. Konate’s form dropped off dramatically at the end of the campaign and Gomez operated more frequently as a full-back than in central defence.

Further forward, as The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported earlier this month, Liverpool are open to bringing in a wide player. Mohamed Salah is expected to stay, while speculation has surrounded Luis Diaz, who has three years remaining on his deal. Wingers are crucial to Slot’s style of play, with the Dutch manager favouring the progressive, direct type who are strong one-on-one.

Thiago’s departure at the end of his contract leaves Liverpool one man lighter in midfield although the Spaniard managed to be on the pitch for only seven minutes last season. The hope is Stefan Bajcetic will feature much more prominently now but Liverpool may want to re-address the No 6 position to better suit Slot’s 4-2-3-1. It may also depend on where Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future lies positionally as to whether they need to strengthen.

Which players’ contracts are expiring and who is expected to renew?

The free-agent exits of Matip and Thiago have been confirmed but third-choice goalkeeper Adrian’s future remains unclear. The 37-year-old is the only other senior player set to be out of contract this summer. He has played a valuable role behind the scenes and in the dressing room but Slot and Liverpool’s leadership team may decide to move in a different direction.

Looking ahead to next season, Liverpool have contract decisions to make on three of their stars: Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk and Salah. They are all entering the final 12 months of their deals, with different dynamics in play for each. Those choices are of huge significance but there is no sense of an immediate resolution for any of them.

Who will make the key decisions this summer?

After Klopp announced his summer departure in January, FSG decided to restructure its football operations, with the returning Edwards replacing Mike Gordon as the key day-to-day decision-maker on sporting matters at Liverpool.

Hughes has been appointed as sporting director while Julian Ward, who previously worked in that role before leaving in 2023, is also back as FSG’s technical director. Benfica’s technical director Pedro Marques has arrived as FSG’s director of football development.

Slot’s appointment as head coach rather than manager highlights the shift in responsibilities with Edwards, alongside his new team and the data and recruitment departments headed by Will Spearman (research director), Dave Fallows (head of scouting and recruitment) and Barry Hunter (chief scout) taking a more prominent role on transfer business. Slot will have input in identifying and selecting targets, but Hughes will then lead negotiations in terms of making the signings.

Who are they looking at?

It has been very quiet on the transfer front this summer for a club usually keen to get business done early if possible, but that is not as surprising this time as Slot has only just started his new job — formally at least.

Background work will have been done on potential incomings but Slot is keen to assess the squad he is inheriting during pre-season, which includes a tour of the U.S. for games against Real Betis of Spain, Arsenal and Manchester United.

What he feels the group lacks will help formalise the plans for this window and those discussions will no doubt have been taking place already.

What moves have they made already?

Again, as Liverpool transition to a new leadership team and a new head coach, little has happened so far. Other than the confirmed departures of Matip and Thiago nobody has gone, and there have been no incomings.

It is unlikely Slot will make too many decisions, if any, on the squad until he has taken a closer look at his new players during pre-season. The European Championship and Copa America mean a number of the club’s senior players will join pre-season late, providing an opportunity for youngsters such as Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns and James McConnell to make their mark.

Returning loanees such as Fabio Carvalho, Tyler Morton, Owen Beck, Luke Chambers and Sepp van den Berg, who Liverpool have placed a £20million valuation on, will also have the chance to impress, too.

Who could they be looking to sell?

Of the first-team squad who could seek the exit door, second-choice goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who performed impressively when standing in for the injured Alisson last season, recently toldThe Athletic of his desire to be a No 1. Left-back Kostas Tsimikas is another who has fallen down the pecking order, although he signed a new long-term contract last season.

There will be interest in the club’s young players, particularly those who stepped up to the first team in the winter, but any outgoings there will almost certainly be loans rather than permanent deals.

Salah is expected to stay and one of Slot’s primary tasks is to try and get the best out of Darwin Nunez – essentially ruling them out as sale options. There is, however, a decision to be made on Diaz, who has three years left on his deal. The 27-year-old played a key role under Klopp but questions remain about his end-product.

His value will only decrease as his contract runs down, so Liverpool have the option of extending him or cashing in. Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have both been linked with the Colombia international.

What is the budget?

Liverpool do not work to a strict budget but they try to secure the best deal possible and aim to live within their means. Transfers are assessed on a case-by-case basis and they will not pay over the odds for a player. The return of Champions League football for 2024-25 will provide a welcome boost to the finances.

However, as shown by their failed £115million move for Moises Caicedo last summer, they are prepared to spend big money on a player they feel can have a significant impact – like Van Dijk and Alisson did when they arrived in 2018’s two windows.

What is their PSR position?

Liverpool are in no danger of breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR). In the last three seasons, they have recorded a combined pre-tax loss of £6.3million, which is way below the £105m threshold.

(Top photo: Getty Images)

Andrew Jones is a Staff Writer for The Athletic covering Burnley FC and Liverpool FC. Having graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class Honours Degree in Sports Journalism, Andrew has had written work published for the Liverpool Echo, Chelsea FC and Preston North End. Follow Andy on Twitter @adjones_journo