Arne Slot will be backed with one of
Liverpool’s
biggest ever summer transfer budgets to pursue a record-breaking 21st league title as the champions ready themselves for a fresh challenge from the chasing pack.
No sooner had
the celebrations begun and date of the parade confirmed for May 26 to mark the club becoming
champions of England for the 20th time, work was ongoing behind-the-scenes to equip Slot with the tools to mount a strong title defence.
Liverpool’s recruitment department has been assessing targets since the new team of sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports Group president Michael Edwards were appointed a year ago.
Having only
signed Federico Chiesa and goalkeeper
Giorgi Mamardashvili since Slot’s arrival – the Georgia No 1 stayed at Valencia for a season-long loan – the resources are available for the club to go big in the next transfer window.
The club recognise that Manchester City will be re-energised next season, Arsenal will come again, and the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle United and Aston Villa have the potential to be title contenders if they recruit well. Liverpool will be far more active this summer than they were a year ago, when they opted to keep faith in the squad Jürgen Klopp left behind.
Liverpool’s main summer priorities are a new No 9 and a left-sided defender. Their scouts have been assessing suitable candidates for months.
Bournemouth duo Dean Huijsen and
Milos Kerkez are admired by Liverpool as much as other top Premier League clubs. Huijsen is expected to move at the end of the season because
he has a £50 million clause in his contract. There would be stiff competition from home and abroad to sign him.
Kerkez was signed for £15.5 million by Hughes during his spell at Bournemouth, his stellar form on the south coast validating the sporting director’s eye for talent.
An issue with Hungarian international Kerkez is his current valuation, with Liverpool reluctant to overpay for a left-back as they are looking for a player to share the workload with Scotland captain Andy Robertson, not necessarily relegate him to back-up status.
The most significant outlay is expected to be in attack, where Darwin Núñez’s Anfield career is almost certain to end this summer if an acceptable bid materialises.
Liverpool obviously rate Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak as one of the best strikers in Europe. However, they are realistic about the likelihood of luring him to Merseyside. The chances would currently appear to be slim to none given the Carabao Cup winners are destined to qualify for the Champions League, putting them in a strong position to resist any overtures for their prime asset.
Isak also has a long contract at St James’ Park, and the club’s ambition lies in challenging Liverpool next season. Newcastle could put a prohibitive price tag in excess of £130 million on Isak, which would need Liverpool to smash their current transfer record by £45 million.
One of the alternatives Liverpool have watched is the 22-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, but an expected fee of £80 million would represent high risk for an emerging talent.
Liverpool are prepared to pay big money for the right player, however. Two years ago they offered £111 million for Moisés Caicedo, who rejected Anfield for Chelsea.
There is no set budget for Slot. Liverpool’s transfer activity will be determined by the availability of prime targets, and exactly how much he has to spend will be influenced on who leaves.
As well as Núñez, fringe players such as Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas will be available. There are also likely to be offers for Scotland winger Ben Doak, who is back on Merseyside recovering from injury after a successful loan spell at Middlesbrough.
Saudi clubs have previously shown interest in Luis Díaz and are thought to be considering a move for Diogo Jota. It is unlikely Liverpool would sell three attackers in the next window, but it remains to be seen what size bids will materialise.
If Slot sold two or three of his attackers – Chiesa is yet to make his mark at Anfield –
another Bournemouth player Liverpool have been watching closely is Antoine Semenyo. He is another of Hughes’ recruits who has elevated his game each time he has stepped up a level. Liverpool’s data team will have been assessing his output during the course of this season, wondering if he would score and create more in a Liverpool jersey.
Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has made no secret of his desire to be first choice elsewhere. As was the case last summer, Liverpool would want a minimum of £25 million for Kelleher given the going rate for Premier League keepers of his experience and quality.
Liverpool will not actively seek to sell Harveyt the 22-year-old may consider his options given he has not started a Premier League game this season. For a player of such immense talent, that will be a source of frustration. But if Elliott backs himself to play more next season, Liverpool will welcome him staying at Anfield.