Heading into this summer’s transfer window, there are three areas of the pitch that most Liverpool fans would agree should be the priorities for adding new players to the roster that Arne Slot has inherited from Jurgen Klopp.
Going from back to front, most supporters would like to see a center-back brought in to replace Joel Matip, even if the ECHO reports that Liverpool does not see that position as a priority. Meanwhile, a world-class defensive midfielder would be nice (even if there are no obvious names out there to fill that void) and some extra attacking depth would not go amiss.
Of course, plenty can change as the summer unfolds. It might be that Caoimhin Kelleher pushes for an exit and Liverpool has to enter the market for a new shot-stopper, or that another attacker would only arrive if Luis Diaz (or someone else) leaves.
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Nevertheless, in a dream scenario, Liverpool would keep Kelleher, add an exciting young defender, unearth the next Rodri, and snap up a sixth senior forward to further spread the goalscoring and chance-creating burden. The last part of that is possibly the most likely: adding another winger to increase Slot’s options even further.
If Diaz was to move on, a left-sided forward would become a priority for Liverpool. The ideal options, even though they would be costly, would be Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon and Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, while The Athletic has also put the Reds in the conversation for Spain star Nico Williams, who has a $63m (£49m/€58m) release clause. Cody Gakpo, meanwhile, has been showing just how effective he can be in that role too.
The best thing for Liverpool, though, would be to have two senior options in each of the forward positions. In the case of Diaz staying, he and Gakpo could share the minutes there, with Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota the pair who can play down the middle. Mohamed Salah and a potential new signing could play off the right.
As a result, even if Barcelona’s interest in Diaz doesn’t lead anywhere and the Colombian stays at Anfield, the Reds should still be looking to add another option in attack. While there are Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon to consider too, adding another more experienced player for the right flank could make a substantial impact.
PSV forward Johan Bakayoko has been suggested as a target for Liverpool by Dutch outlet Eindhovens Dagblad. He could be an ideal player to eventually succeed Salah as the number-one pick down the right, taking some of the pressure off the Egyptian to play every minute of every game in the meantime.
Liverpool should be looking to sign one more player for its forward line this summer even if Diaz stays and Salah signs an extended contract. In the case that it loses a body, Richard Hughes might then have to be even busier to ensure there are enough options at the disposal of head coach Slot.