8 free transfers Liverpool can target next summer with defenders up for grabs

Liverpool might have gone big during the most recent transfer window, but if anything, this season is showing there is still business for the club to do.

Arne Slot’s side is still yet to find its feet this season, even after the big-money signings of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong.

If anything though, it’s the one signing the Reds missed out on in the summer that has made the biggest impact. Having missed out on Marc Guehi on deadline day, Liverpool’s defense has come under the microscope amid the club’s recent slump, with major questions being asked of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

Of course, Liverpool will get another chance to sign Guehi, and there will even be a chance to get him for free - and he’s not the only bargain on offer.

Having splashed the cash last summer, the Reds may want to save some money next time around - Liverpool.com has taken a look at eight players who are set to be available for nothing next summer, and might just interest the club.

Marc Guehi

The most obvious one for Liverpool to target, Guehi will surely be top of the list next summer - assuming a move hasn't already been made in January.

The Reds' interest in the England international needs no explanation after his failed deadline day move, but Crystal Palace's decision to pull the plug at the eleventh hour does complicate matters.

No doubt there will be plenty of clubs interested in Guehi - who wouldn't be if he's available for free? Waiting until the summer would be a gamble though, so if the opportunity is there for a deal to be done in January, it's one Liverpool should absolutely go for.

Dayot Upamecano

Dayot Upamecano has looked like the backup option to Guehi for some time now, with the Bayern Munich defender having been linked with a move to Anfield over the last couple of months.

Whether he will be available for free next summer is looking increasingly doubtful though, with BBC Sport this week reporting that Bayern expects Upamecano to sign a new contract.

But should those talks go wrong for the German team, it will certainly be worth Liverpool taking a look, although Real Madrid might well be in the hunt as well.

Ruben Neves

Ruben Neves' decision to move to Saudi Arabia in 2023 has always felt like a case of wasted potential, given he probably could have earned himself a decent move in Europe after his time at Wolves.

He will be 29 by the time the summer rolls around, so there might still be some time if he feels he can offer something when his contract expires at Al-Hilal.

That age would likely rule him out of a move to Liverpool, but if he's available for free, it could still be worth a punt, even as a solid backup to the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, and it would be a fitting move given his long friendship with Diogo Jota.

Julian Brandt

Who should Liverpool get to potentially replace Mohamed Salah? Well, how about the player Jurgen Klopp originally wanted before the Egyptian?

Admittedly, it does feel like the time has passed for Julian Brandt to make a move to Anfield, but given his contract at Borussia Dortmund is expiring, he might well be a versatile option worth looking at who could provide cover on either wing or in the No. 10 role.

Quinten Timber

A player Arne Slot knows well from his time at Feyenoord, Quinten Timber has been linked with a move to the Premier League as his contract in Rotterdam runs down, and though midfield might not be a priority for Liverpool, the twin brother of Arsenal star Jurrien might well be worth a look.

Timber has been linked with joining his brother in north London, and Slot gave him a glowing review before he made his way to Anfield.

“If he continues to develop as he has this year, then his ceiling is extremely high because he has undergone great development over the past year. He is a special player,” he told ZiggoSport just last year.

Diogo Leite

Perhaps a wildcard option for Liverpool, but a center-back under 30 who could be available for free and is playing in one of Europe's top leagues shouldn't be sniffed at.

Union Berlin's Diogo Leite would add some much-needed depth to Liverpool's options at center-back, and what's more, he's left-footed - something that none of the Reds' other options can boast, which might actually give them more balance.

Amadou Haidara

Another midfield option, and one that we have suggested as a possible option previously, Amadou Haidara would follow that same path as the likes of Ibrahima Konate and Dominik Szoboszlai were he to join Liverpool from RB Leipzig.

He is yet to make an appearance this season, which is a bit of a concern, although he's already saying all the right things, having previously revealed he models his game on Steven Gerrard.

"He was an exemplary player who had it all and battled on the pitch," he said, via Bundesliga.com. "I'm a combative player who works hard in defence, and I try to do my best going forward. I've also got a good shot."

Marcos Senesi

If you're looking for a free agent that would fit the bill in so many ways for Liverpool, Marcos Senesi might be your man.

A center-back? Check. Played under Arne Slot at Feyenoord? Check. Signed by Richard Hughes at Bournemouth? Check.

At 28, he might be a little older than the usual sort of player the Reds would target, but with three years of Premier League experience under his belt, he could be a shrewd bit of business for the club - hopefully Slot and Hughes still have his number.