Liverpool could agree immediate January transfer after talks over permanent deal

Liverpool will be able to buy and sell players again in just a few hours, when the January transfer window opens and Arne Slot and Richard Hughes could have some decisions to make

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

In just a few hours, Liverpool will be able to make moves in the transfer market once more, with various players being tipped to move to Anfield to bolster Arne Slot's roster.

It remains to be seen exactly how busy this month will be for incomings. Antoine Semenyo had been linked with a transfer to Liverpool but appears to be heading to Manchester City, while Marc Guehi, Oliver Glasner said last week, is likely to remain at Crystal Palace until the end of the season, when he could move for free.

But the decisions to be taken do not just involve potential signings. Sporting director Richard Hughes could have some other calls to make as well regarding loans or permanent exits.

Harvey Elliott is not playing at Aston Villa, for instance, while James McConnell has fallen out of favor at Ajax. The pair looked to have made the right moves in the summer, but may now need to rethink.

According to The Athletic, James Norris, the 22-year-old left-back, has interest from Shelbourne, the Irish team with which he did well while on loan earlier in the year.

Norris has trained with the first team on numerous occasions but is unlikely to get any minutes. Even in the FA Cup, it is likely to be Andy Robertson — who is out of contract in a few months as things stand — who is selected.

Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool, during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield (Image: 2025 James Gill - Danehouse)

While Liverpool has proven not to be averse to spending in January in the past, bringing in the likes of Luis Diaz and Virgil van Dijk in the winter window in the past, it will only do so for the right opportunity.

Though Arne Slot could probably do with more depth at center-back, if it is to be Guehi who comes in, and he is only realistically to be available in the summer, then Liverpool will wait.

Slot spoke about the transfers that his side made during the last summer, when around $600M was spent on new players — offset by significant sales of around half that sum.

"A lot has been said by so many people about the amount of money that we spent, but no one talked about what has been recouped and that we sold so many," Slot said.

"From the players we bought, we unfortunately couldn’t see the best of Alex [Isak], Giovanni Leoni has been injured since his first game, and Frimpong has hardly played as well.

"We were not always able to use the players we brought in. Jeremie is an example. If he is fit, he can definitely help us. Last week he had the assist against Tottenham and today a great assist against Wolves today.

"Pace, that is so important. The first goal was pure individual ability. That is the pace I always wanted to bring in during the summer with Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie and Alex as well. But not all of the money we have spent, we have used."

Liverpool.com says: January is always an interesting month for deals taking place. Sometimes, teams go big; at other times, things are much quieter. For Liverpool, waiting until the summer for more incomings would be fine unless something particular comes up.