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Liverpool set for “one of their biggest ever transfer budgets”
Fresh from claiming the Premier League crown, Liverpool are set to be handed on of their largest ever transfer kitties according to the Telegraph.
The Reds are said to be targeting a number of positions with a striker, winger, and left-back said to be top priorities.
Arne Slot, along with sporting director Richard Hughes, are said to already busy at work planning their title defence, with large sums being readied to add reinforcements to the squad. Many questions also remain about departures for current players, so the Anfield club have their work cut out for them.
Firepower
A striker is said to be at the very top of Slot’s wish list, with the future of Darwin Nunez very much in the air. All roads lead to a departure for the Uruguayan and Liverpool are said to be looking to bolster that position in any case. The man on everyone’s radar is Newcastle talisman Alexander Isak, and Liverpool are known to be just one of many suitors for the player.
The likes of Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG to name a few are all interested in throwing their hats in the ring in what is certain to be a complicated and expensive deal for any club to complete.
Liverpool are also said to be interested in two other reported Arsenal targets – RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike. Victor Oshimen of Napoli and soon to be free agent Jonathan David from Lille are the other names on the table as the Reds look to sharpen their attack.
Another winger is also said to be of interest to Liverpool and the club has been linked to Bournemouth’s Antione Semenyo. Semenyo has been in fine form this season and Slot is said to be looking for cover for Salah and Diaz. Last summer’s signing Frederico Chiesa has endured an injury ravaged start to his Liverpool career, while the same can be said for Diogo Jota and Liverpool could be looking to bolster the wide areas.
Steady at the back
Two of Semenyo’s Bournemouth teammates are also said to be admired by Liverpool – defensive duo Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez. Captain and leading centre half Virgil Van Dijk is now 33 and left back Andy Robertson is 31, and the club are said to be in search of long term successors for both positions. Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah have seen limited minutes, meaning that Van Djik and Konate have carried the brunt of the load.
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy shared his thoughts with BBC, adding that there may be a need for another central defender, but thinks Huijsen may not be the best fit considering his limited experience in the top flight.
He said: “Van Dijk is staying and will be the mainstay, so whether there is an addition depends on Arne Slot’s view on Joe [Gomez] and Jarell Quansah. The amount of minutes they have played this season is very limited, so that suggests to me that he wants some back-up there.
“Virgil is coming up to 34 so they will want to get someone who will play a lot of games. If Van Dijk gets injured there is no-one there with anywhere near his presence.
“There have been rumours about Dean Huijsen at Bournemouth, who is a super young talent, but I’d like to see someone a bit further down the line in their development.
“The names that spring to mind will not be easy, maybe impossible, to get but you think of Micky van de Ven at Spurs, Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.
“They are used to the Premier League and all different. Van de Ven has got lightning pace, Guehi has physicality, although he is not the biggest, a real calmness and leadership. Branthwaite maybe doesn’t have the athleticism but is a real presence.
“If you could guarantee Gomez would be fit you might not use up your budget there. Van Dijk’s durability at his age, and Ibrahima Konate as well, have been a huge reason why Liverpool have been so good, but I think centre-half will be looked at.”
