By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com
Arne Slot might now solely be days away from turning into the primary Liverpool supervisor since Kenny Dalglish to win a top-flight title in his first marketing campaign in cost, solely the third ever for the membership and solely the fourth in Premier League historical past.
It’s a outstanding achievement, however there may be an acknowledgment that that is solely the beginning; new contracts for each Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, themselves satisfied of this new Slot-led venture, are testomony to that.
“No matter occurs by way of gamers going out, gamers coming in, I believe it ought to be an enormous summer season,” Van Dijk defined previous to the announcement of his new two-year deal.
“I believe they’re planning to make it an enormous summer season, so all of us should belief the board to do the suitable job.”
As champions-elect, Liverpool have already got designs on the summer season switch window, together with high-profile departures and virtually definitely big-money signings.
Nail it, and the membership might set themselves up for the following decade – with 4 key transfers standing out.
Dean Huijsen
Liverpool have already tied down the way forward for their goalkeeping ranks with the signing of Georgia’s Participant of the Yr, Giorgi Mamardashvili, from Valencia, with a £29 million deal agreed in Slot’s first summer season in cost.
That paves the best way for Alisson‘s eventual exit and a hopefully clean transition between the sticks – subsequent up is the plan for Van Dijk’s successor.
Luckily that won’t be required till not less than 2027, with the world’s greatest centre-back now dedicated for 2 extra years, however Liverpool have already got their sights set on their subsequent in line.
Amongst numerous golf equipment focused on signing Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, accessible with a launch clause of £50 million, the Reds’ pursuit of the Dutch-born Spain worldwide definitely is smart.
Having solely turned 20 in April, Huijsen has stood out as one of the vital completed centre-backs within the Premier League after swapping Juventus for Dean Court docket final summer season.
His excellent technical means is matched with an clever studying of the sport, and he’s completely suited to the progressive type required in Slot’s again line – both as companion to Van Dijk, with doubts over Ibrahima Konaté‘s future, or a long-term alternative.
Milos Kerkez
Huijsen’s Bournemouth teammate Milos Kerkez is one other recognized goal for Liverpool heading into the summer season, and it comes as no shock for numerous causes.
Firstly, left-back is arguably the one actual drawback place inside Slot’s squad, with Andy Robertson displaying indicators of damage and Kostas Tsimikas, although an in a position deputy, not displaying himself able to taking up as first selection.
Kerkez is the precedence as Liverpool search possible competitors for Robertson – with golf equipment from elsewhere within the Premier League reported to be focused on Tsimikas – having excelled beneath Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth.
His lung-busting method at left-back is, once more, best for Slot’s system whereas the Hungarian can also be greater than snug in his personal defensive third.
Nonetheless solely 21, Kerkez was dropped at Bournemouth by now-Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and his proposed swap to Merseyside might lighten the load on Robertson whereas locking down the left-back spot for years to come back.
Xavi Simons
“It’s good to have versatile gamers,” admitted Slot in his latest reward for Curtis Jones, whereas revealing it’s a issue he and Hughes “discuss lots about” of their plans for the long run.
Step ahead one other reported goal in RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons – a participant who might fill any variety of roles within the head coach’s setup.
Simons solely joined Leipzig on a everlasting foundation on the finish of January, however his preliminary £43 million swap to the Crimson Bull Area was broadly anticipated to be with a view to transferring on once more earlier than lengthy.
Liverpool are among the many golf equipment touted with a transfer for the 21-year-old this summer season and experiences in Germany declare Leipzig could be on the lookout for round £70 million for his companies.
Whereas steep, that’s an indicator of each the Netherlands worldwide’s present means and his upscale – a participant who, regardless of his age, has already performed 131 occasions throughout spells with PSV Eindhoven, Paris Saint-Germain and Leipzig, and has made 74 objective contributions within the final three seasons at a median of a objective or help each 130.9 minutes.
Able to taking part in as a left or proper winger, as an attacking midfielder, up entrance and whilst a No. 8, Simons is the definition of versatile and will clear up numerous issues with query marks over the likes of Luis Díaz and Diogo Jota.
Hugo Ekitike
Lastly, and maybe sometimes, the costliest signing of the summer season is prone to come within the centre-forward place, with Liverpool needing a alternative for Darwin Núñez.
Whereas they had been burned with their club-record £85 million outlay on Núñez – a participant who, whereas offering 40 targets and 22 assists in 138 video games to date, has by no means seemed the suitable match for both Slot or Jürgen Klopp – there’s a sense that classes will probably be discovered this time round.
The Núñez deal was spearheaded by Klopp himself, however Liverpool have now seen a shift in emphasis again to data-led recruitment, which appears to have turned them on to Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.
Although there are recommendations of a equally lofty £85 million price ticket across the younger Frenchman, Ekitike nonetheless resembles a less expensive, virtually like-for-like various to soccer’s most-desired however priced-out ahead Alexander Isak, who Newcastle worth at £150 million.
Tall and well-built at 6’3″ however nonetheless nimble and cellular over distances, Ekitike may very well be a perfect ‘nine-and-a-half’ for Slot’s system, snug each in buildup play and ending off assaults, drifting wherever he’s wanted relatively than restricted to central areas.
Like Huijsen, 20, Kerkez, 21, and Simons, 21, Ekitike has his greatest years forward of him as he solely turns 23 in June – and signing all 4 alongside the arrival Mamardashvili, 24, even for a mixed £250 million, might set Liverpool up for the following decade.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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