Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes warned Kopites not to expect too much when he spoke at Arne Slot’s unveiling at the start of last month. Hughes did talk about the window hitting a “crescendo” in the final few weeks as business comes to a conclusion.
Hughes is scouring the market for what Liverpool need, but it’s hard to find better than you already have, especially with just days left. Slot did identify another holding midfield player and he prefers to play with two in his 4-2-3-1 formation as opposed to the one in Jurgen Klopp’s 4-3-3 system.
He’s not sure on Waturu Endo and the Japan midfielder did well in the middle part of last season before fading. Endo is 31 and was signed as a stop-gap last season when Liverpool missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea. Slot does not see him having a long future in his side and is keen to strengthen in that area.
Real Sociedad and Spain’s Martin Zubimendi ticked all the boxes for the Reds, but his change of heart has left them back at square one. Liverpool have tried to be pre-emptive in the goalkeeping department and sign Georgian star Giorgi Mamardashvili as Alisson’s long-term successor.
This is complicated by the fact Caoimhin Kelleher is still at Anfield and he was expected to move on to another Premier League club for around £25million. Liverpool need to find a loan club for Mamardashvili and it is not a straight-forward deal.
Joe Gomez is an interesting situation and he is said to be exploring his options after being left out of Slot’s matchday squad for Saturday’s win at Ipswich. Gomez was used 51 times last season by Klopp, but Slot has not promoted him within the squad to leave the England defender pondering his options.
Aston Villa, Fulham and Newcastle are all keen on Gomez, who has more uses than a Swiss Army knife. However selling him at this late stage of the window, especially after knocking back Bayern Munich in June, would make little sense for Liverpool and they would have just days to replace the most-versatile player in their squad.
Gomez was excellent last season as an emergency left-back and can play there, right-back, centre-half and even in the No 6 role. Liverpool have long been linked with Crystal Palace’s England defender Marc Guehi, but it is understood the Reds are not targeting him this summer.
It is hard for Liverpool fans to stomach their lack of activity when all their rivals are strengthening, but they still have one of the best squads in the Premier League. Klopp completely rebuilt their midfield last summer, while Jarell Quansah has replaced the departed Joel Matip.
Liverpool dismissed selling Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold or Virgil van Dijk, who have entered the final years of their contracts, and this ruled out much transfer activity. L’Equipe are linking them with Rennes’ French defender Adrien Truffert, who helped his country win silver at the Paris Olympics, as a long-term replacement for Andy Robertson, and there have been question marks over Kostas Tsimikas.
What business Liverpool do this summer, if any, will be round the edges of their team and it is clear, judging by the weighty evidence of the second half at Ipswich, they are still a top-four side.
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