Liverpool’s dream January with triple £137m transfer as duo return | Football | Sport
Liverpool head into Christmas Day with a squad decimated by injuries ahead of Saturday’s visit of Wolves to Anfield. The Reds lost record signing Alexander Isak to a leg break this week that threatens to rob the Swede of a few months. And with Mohamed Salah away at African Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo also injured, Liverpool are light in attack. In midfield, Wataru Endo’s injury means every fit senior midfielder is currently starting for Arne Slot in his current system. The main back-up is Trey Nyoni, who only made his Premier League debut off the bench at Tottenham last weekend.
But luckily for Slot and co. the January transfer window is just around the corner. And with Liverpool facing nine games in January alone, many of which they could be without Salah for due to AFCON, Express Sport looks at how an ideal winter window could look for the reigning champions with several additions…
£137m triple transfer
What we know about Liverpool’s recruitment staff is that they will only sign players they think could be in the starting eleven in two or three years’ time – not just right now. Marc Guehi is an easy target to revisit given the failed £35million deadline day deal in the summer. With the Reds so light in defence and Ibrahima Konate’s contract expiring in 2026, they might be tempted still to fork out £25m or so even if Guehi’s Palace deal expires in six months, meaning he’ll be available for free soon.
Paying a slight premium to beat the many clubs competing for the in-form England international’s signature feels logical. Liverpool are also in need of extra midfield depth, and AZ Alkmaar’s 19-year-old tempo-setter Kees Smit might fit the bill for Slot. The Netherlands international is priced at around £25m which would be a club-record sale for AZ but is a very feasible fee for the Merseyside giants.
Smit is a talented passer who plays in defensive midfield but is always on the move to help keep the ball moving. That would help inject extra tempo into Liverpool’s build-up play. He’s still raw given his age but is a safe long-term bet and in the shot term could rotate in and out of the side with Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister.
In attack, Liverpool are on the hunt for a winger despite opting not to act on their interest in Manchester City-bound Antoine Semenyo. RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande might fit the bill. He’s at AFCON with Ivory Coast right now but the £87m-rated 19-year-old is a gigantic talent.
Capable of playing on either flank, Diomande has seven goals in 16 games this season. He’s brilliant at dribbling and carrying the ball into dangerous areas, but also is pacy, prolific and knows how to press. All of his goal contributions have come from the right side this season, suggesting the Ivorian could be a long-term successor to Salah. His price threatens to rise if he shines at AFCON, though.
Signings – Marc Guehi £25m, Kees Smit £25m, Yan Diomande £87m
Two stars return
Of those signings, none are likely to be completed in the first few days of January. But two players Liverpool can welcome through the AXA Training Centre immediately are two players struggling out on loan. Harvey Elliott’s time at Aston Villa has been disastrous and cutting it short makes sense for all involved.
Elliott has already played for Liverpool this season which means he can only play for the Reds or Villa. So he would be a good alternative to Mac Allister in his new more advanced role despite struggling to feature under Slot last term.
James McConnell’s stint at Ajax has also failed and the academy midfielder would be a handy option for the FA Cup third-round visit of Barnsley in particular. The 21-year-old has only made a first-team appearance for Ajax this season so would be free to head out on loan elsewhere at the end of January if Liverpool have Endo back by then.
Players returning – Harvey Elliott, James McConnell
Salah decision made
The other matter at Liverpool is exits – but given the current state of the squad, they cannot afford many. Perhaps only any academy talents leaving on loan. From the first-team squad, talisman Salah is going nowhere – even if he wants out.
Slot and Salah repaired their rift enough so that he could face Brighton before jetting off for AFCON duty. With Isak facing months out, the game time is there for the Egyptian even if the Dutch coach gets a new forward in the January transfer market.
Captain Virgil van Dijk has made it clear to Salah he wants his team-mate to stay, and letting him depart would leave an already threadbare attack far too thin. It cannot be allowed to happen.
