DONE DEAL, Anthony Gordon forces move, two more done deals to follow… Liverpool releases new look team with Newcastle’s deadly star featuring in a new position
Liverpool has yet to make any signings this summer, but the transfer market is expected to heat up in the coming weeks. Behind the scenes, head coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes have been working diligently.
Earlier this week, The Independent reported that Liverpool could make as many as four signings this summer, targeting center-backs, holding midfielders, and wide forwards. According to the report, the Reds could add two attackers, with 22-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt defender Willian Pacho being one of the admired players.
However, unless someone leaves, adding two wingers might be excessive. Liverpool already has five senior forward options, which is a solid position to build from. Anthony Gordon, who Liverpool had an agreement with earlier this summer before Newcastle United addressed their PSR concerns by selling other players, would be an ideal addition to the forward line. It seems plausible that this deal could happen during this window. If not, Gordon could force a future move by not signing a new contract. In an ideal scenario, Liverpool would secure Gordon this month, but given the previously agreed fee of $96 million (£75m/€88m) during Newcastle’s PSR compliance scramble, the price would likely be higher now.
An elite holding midfielder has been a priority for Liverpool for some time. The Reds attempted to sign Aurelien Tchouameni in 2022, but he joined Real Madrid, and a year later, they made a substantial bid for Moises Caicedo, who opted for Chelsea. The challenge is finding a player who is significantly better than what Liverpool currently has. While the Reds do not want to hinder the development of Stefan Bajcetic, they are ideally looking for a top-level player on the market. If such a player becomes available, Liverpool will make a move.
In defense, Sepp van den Berg and Nat Phillips could be on their way out, and there are whispers about Joe Gomez, though Liverpool is reluctant to lose the 27-year-old. Considering Ibrahima Konate’s injury history and Gomez’s extended time at full-back last season, signing another center-back would be prudent. This would leave Liverpool with a dream squad, which might look something like this:
Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker, Caoimhin Kelleher, Vitezslav Jaros
Defenders: Joel Matip replacement, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, Conor Bradley, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson
Midfielders: New holding midfielder, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Bobby Clark
Forwards: Anthony Gordon, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota
Youngsters Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon might go out on loan, and there is interest in Bobby Clark as well. Bringing in three key signings—a center-back, a holding midfielder, and Anthony Gordon—would leave Liverpool with a well-rounded squad, ready to compete at the highest level. With the August 30 deadline fast approaching, the clock is ticking for the Reds to finalize these moves.
