What are Liverpool's Biggest Transfer Needs This Summer?

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FT Desk

Liverpool's 2025/26 season has been underwhelming at best and an unmitigated disaster at worst.

The Reds romped to the Premier League title last term, finishing a whopping ten points clear of runners-up Arsenal. And after a summer spending spree of over £350m yielded the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike, it came as no surprise to see online betting sites immediately install Arne Slot's men as the clear favourite to retain their crown.

After the Merseyside outfit started the campaign with five straight wins, outlets such as the popular Sportaza online sportsbook listed them as a short-priced even-money favourite to win the title again. Then, the wheels well and truly came off the title charge. A run of six defeats in seven throughout the autumn curtailed Liverpool's hopes before they had truly gotten off the ground, and as we head into the dying embers of the campaign, the outgoing champions are yet to secure their spot in next season's Champions League.

There can be no denying that the Reds require a massive squad overall in the summer. The legendary Mohamed Salah is confirmed to be leaving the club on a free transfer, while Ibrahima Konate is also expected to leave the club for nothing, following Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid. Add to that the fact that manager Slot has already been quoted as saying that Liverpool must "sell to buy" this summer, after last year's massive transfer outlay, and a testing few months at Anfield could lie in wait.

So, taking all of that into account, which positions must the Reds target this summer if they are to return to title contention next season? Here are our picks.

Centre Back

If Konate does leave for the Bernabeu, Liverpool will be in dire need of a new centre-half alongside captain Virgil van Dijk. And to be fair, even if he doesn't leave the club, after some of his disastrous displays this term, the Reds could well still require further reinforcements at the heart of their backline.

One name that is currently being linked with a move to Anfield is that of Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi. The Argentinian has shone on the South Coast ever since arriving from Dutch outfit Feyenoord four years ago. This season, he has broken into the Argentina national team set up, and he looks poised to embark upon a starting role at the upcoming World Cup following an injury to Spurs captain and regular starter Cristian Romero.

Much like Konate, Senesi is also available on a free transfer this summer with his Bournemouth contract set to expire, and that will certainly appeal to a Liverpool transfer committee that is somewhat strapped for cash. Names such as Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke and Juventus' Pierre Kalulu are also being linked with a move to Anfield, but Senesi remains very much the first choice.

Right Wing

Salah's impending departure opens up a huge gap on the right wing that will need filling by someone with genuine quality. The Egyptian King has worked miracles on the right-hand side for the last nine years, scoring a whopping 257 goals en route to two Premier League titles and the 2019 Champions League. Now, however, his time with the club is drawing to a close, and the Reds must replace him with someone capable of at least attempting to fill those boots.

The emergence of teenage prodigy Rio Ngumoha is certainly promising, but the 17-year-old looks more effective from the left-hand side, as opposed to the right. Other than him, Federico Chiesa is the only other wide option, but he, too, could be on his way out of the club after a less-than-impressive two-year stint.

So, what names are being linked with a move to the club right now? The most exciting of them is, without question, RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande. The 19-year-old Ivorian has been in blistering form in the Bundesliga this term, netting 13 goals and providing a further ten assists as he helped lead the Red Bulls back to the Champions League. But while he would certainly be an excellent addition, he could well command a transfer fee of around £85m, a number that could be too steep for the Reds.

Sporting's Francisco Trincão might be a more budget option. He would cost around half the price of that of Diomande, and while he is somewhat older than the young prodigy (26), he too is equally adept at cutting inside from the right-hand touchline and causing problems.

Striker

Liverpool forked out £200m on the signings of strikers Alexander Isak and Hugo Ektike last summer, and both have suffered potentially career-derailing injuries. Isak was down with a broken leg earlier in the season and has looked like a shadow of the man who lit up the Premier League with Newcastle since returning. Ekitike, meanwhile, is out for the next six months at least after rupturing his Achilles, an injury that is notoriously difficult to ever fully recover from.

So, despite the club's massive outlay 12 months ago, the Reds could well require another striker to help both Isak and Ektike. Two strikers available on free transfers are currently being linked with the club, namely the legendary Polish hitman Robert Lewandowski and French international Randal Kolo Muani. Either of those would certainly represent a solid signing, especially on a free transfer.

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