Liverpool sit at the summit of the Premier League table and with Arsenal and Manchester City looking shaky, there is a real chance Arne Slot could hold aloft the title at the end of his first season at Anfield. Slot has been immense since his arrival in the summer and has managed to implement his playing philosophy without getting much help from the club in the last transfer window. The Dutchman has essentially managed Jurgen Klopp’s side and turned them into legitimate contenders within months.
However, Liverpool briefed everyone last summer that they wanted to back Slot in his first transfer window. But the club ended the summer with only one first-team signing in the form of Federico Chiesa who has featured for 78 minutes since his arrival. To describe the last window as a damp squib would be an understatement and it is to Slot’s credit that he didn’t allow it to overshadow his work on the training pitch.
Everyone knew what Liverpool really wanted last summer – an elite number 6. Wataru Endo is an honest and hard-working footballer but last season proved that he is not good enough to be the starting defensive midfielder in a team that want to win the Premier League and the Champions League.
Martin Zubimendi was identified as the top target and for days it seemed certain that Liverpool would complete his signing for a fee of €60m. There was genuine excitement as the Spaniard showed his class in Spain’s European Championship triumph and is an elite-level talent. However, Liverpool were in for a shock as after days of contemplating his options, the midfielder decided against leaving Real Sociedad. The snub for Zubimendi was something that no one expected at Anfield and it seemed they didn’t have alternatives lined up.
The arrival of Chiesa towards the end of the window grabbed some headlines but everyone knew that it was a summer transfer window the Liverpool hierarchy would probably want to forget.
Arne Slot must demand better in January
Slot was new at Liverpool last summer and had less of a say on transfers than Klopp had towards the end of his tenure. Richard Hughes and his boss Michael Edwards are the real powerbrokers behind the scenes but they dropped the ball in the last transfer window.
The team’s rise under Arne Slot has likely increased his power base at Anfield and he is now in a better position to make demands of the hierarchy in the winter window.
Ryan Gravenberch has been glorious to watch and the emergence of Curtis Jones has made fans happy but Liverpool are just a couple of injuries short of having threadbare midfield options. The club will likely chase the Premier League in the latter half of the season and could be in with a shout in the Champions League as well. Slot would want more options that are better than Endo who is expected to be sold in January.
The Liverpool manager must demand that the club bring in the elite number 6 in January that they promised him in the summer and strengthen his hands. An injury to Gravenberch, Liverpool would be forced into playing Endo and given his lack of opportunities, it is clear that Slot doesn’t rate him.
Can you name the team Liverpool sold these players to?
With Liverpool spending next to nothing last summer, funds are unlikely to be a problem for Liverpool if they find the right player to go for in the January transfer window. Arne Slot must insist on additions as Manchester City and Arsenal are not going to wobble every season and there could be a resurgent Chelsea and Manchester United next season. This could be a real chance for Liverpool to equal Manchester United’s haul of 20 top-flight titles but they will need their hierarchy to step up in the winter window.
The club are also believed to be looking at potential centre-back recruits, but Slot must insist that they get the defensive midfielder before looking to make any more additions when the window opens in January.
Who could come in?
It is clear that Liverpool were desperate for Martin Zubimendi and didn’t believe there was another viable alternative for him last summer. The Spaniard has continued to impress at Real Sociedad and it would be no surprise if Liverpool decide to rekindle their interest in him in January. He still has that €60m, which was not a problem in the summer and won’t be an issue in the winter window as well. However, the real challenge lies in convincing Zubimendi to leave Real Sociedad. Arsenal and Manchester City are also believed to be interested in getting their hands on him.
Jurgen Klopp wanted Aurelien Tchouameni in the summer of 2022 but Liverpool couldn’t compete with the lure of Real Madrid. However, his move to Spain has not worked out and the midfielder was recently whistled off the pitch by the home fans in their 3-1 defeat against AC Milan. The Frenchman is keen to move on but a deal is more likely in the summer than in the winter window. There is talk of an audacious swap involving Trent Alexander-Arnold but for the moment, such a deal seems unlikely to happen.
