Liverpool has two transfer issues left to solve once Hugo Ekitike deal is completed

Liverpool, it is fair to say, is not messing around. Mere days after Newcastle indicated it would maintain its stance over Alexander Isak, the Reds have made significant headway over a transfer for Hugo Ekitike.

The fact that Ekitike was also Newcastle's top target, presumably in an effort to create a long-term Isak succession plan, is neither here nor there. It's just the latest example that Richard Hughes is in a ruthless mood this summer.

If the striker does join, he would be the fourth senior acquisition of the summer. Significantly, he would be the second truly marquee addition, hot on the heels of fellow Bundesliga shining light Florian Wirtz.

While the prices are a little lower, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong are also both astute additions, signed in areas where Liverpool needed reinforcements. The former will challenge Andy Robertson with an eye on ultimately succeeding him, while the latter, along with Conor Bradley, will seek to fill the gap left by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

It would be easy, then, to call it a job very well done if and when Ekitike comes through the door. And to be fair, it would still go down as one of the most exciting transfer windows at Anfield in years.

However, once Ekitike is done, there are a couple of other matters that still ideally need to be addressed. The first, in particular, would be a real risk to ignore.

Liverpool needs another center-back

Liverpool may have already added two defenders to the ranks this summer, but neither have been signed exclusively for their strengths at the back. Both Frimpong and Kerkez are renowned for bombing runs forward.

Indeed, it seems plausible that they could be tasked with being the primary sources of attacking width, should Arne Slot choose to tweak his system. Bringing Mohamed Salah narrower and playing him alongside Wirtz, with both of them behind Ekitike, looks like a plausible route to maximizing the talent in the squad.

But that would leave the center-backs with even more work to get through, if anything. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are no strangers to covering for marauding colleagues, but they cannot do it all on their own.

It is excellent news that Van Dijk has signed an extension, but that doesn't change the fact he has just turned 34. Konate should be one for the long-term future, but his contract has entered its final year.

And even in the immediate term, the department looks on the thin side when it comes to managing injuries. Jarell Quansah was next in line, but he has been sold to Bayer Leverkusen — leaving only Joe Gomez in reserve.

A renaissance for Gomez, five years after he was integral to Liverpool's first Premier League title, would be an incredible storyline. But Slot has to face the fact that his availability cannot be relied upon, even though the talent is still there.

The last time Liverpool entered a season with three senior center-backs, they were all out for the season by January. It's apparent that in order to support the rest of the transfer business, which is clearly geared toward helping Slot retain his title, another center-back is necessary.

There have been strong links to Marc Guehi, who would certainly fit the bill. But whether it's him or someone else, Liverpool cannot afford to roll the dice, for fear of undermining all of its good work.

Liverpool has outgoing business to sort

Ekitike and a center-back would more or less wrap up a 10/10 transfer window from an incomings perspective. But Liverpool runs a self-sustaining club, and still has work to do in order to make the columns add up.

It should be said that Liverpool has no financial or FFP need to sell in order to buy — especially after a quiet summer last year, there is significant money in the bank. Even so, astute selling is what allows Hughes to continually reinvest and strenghten.

The Quansah and Caoimhin Kelleher deals have been shrewd. Now, attention will turn to maximizing the resale value of Darwin Nunez, with Saudi clubs lurking.

There are other fringe sales to complete. Tyler Morton should generate a fair fee, while one of Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas may yet head toward the exit door as well.

And then there are the borderline cases, where Liverpool is fielding interest but a decision is yet to be made. Calls may be needed on Harvey Elliott and especially Luis Diaz.

Those would be more significant sales, with both players having had big roles to play in recent campaigns. They would each net healthy sums — and their departures may prompt Liverpool back into the market, in order to maintain the depth of Slot's options.

Given how much their sales would alter the transfer picture, Liverpool could do with deciding one way or the other well in advance of the deadline. After such good work so far, it would be a shame to be left scrambling.