Centre-back situation suddenly feels just one of a number of issues that need resolving as Arne Slot faces questions all over the field that could be expensive to answer
www.thetimes.com
Mohamed Salah is scheduled to return to the Liverpool squad this week after Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign, with his pre-tournament outburst against Arne Slot dictating that
no one seems to be quite sure whether this is the start of a long goodbye, in which he will leave before next season.
Reinforcements on the right would be a priority then, especially if, as seems likely given he barely plays, Federico Chiesa departs after the end of the campaign.
If Jeremie Frimpong is earmarked for one of those two slots, then Liverpool surely require a right back.
==========
Should Konaté leave on a free transfer, are two new centre backs needed allowing for the reluctance to give Joe Gomez minutes which is, in part, due to his fitness issues? Are two necessary regardless?
==========
Is the current midfield ready to push to reclaim the title next season or does it need strengthening? Will
Curtis Jones, who had been attracting interest from Tottenham Hotspur, feel it is time to be more of a guaranteed starter somewhere?
==========
Kostas Tsimikas is due to return from a loan spell with Roma and may become back-up to Milos Kerkez if
Robertson departs when his
contract expires in five months. But that is not a long-term solution.
Like Gomez and Virgil Van Dijk, Tsimikas’ contract is up in 2027.
==========
And that is before we get to the future of
Slot — who heard the final whistle on Saturday followed by boos — sporting director
Richard Hughes and the CEO of football for Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group,
Michael Edwards. They
all have 18 months left to run on their contracts.