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Liverpool’s purchase of Hugo Ekitike could push the Reds’ summer transfer spending beyond the $325 million (£240M) mark, that’s before factoring in potential add-ons or the $33M (£25M) fee agreed for Giorgi Mamardashvili last summer.
That represents a whopping summer outlay at Anfield, an unprecedented level for the normally cautious FSG ownership. And while rivals will joke about the Philippe Coutinho money still being spent, the reality for Liverpool is that at least one more significant signing feels necessary.
Once Ekitike’s arrival is confirmed, it will leave Arne Slot’s squad with just one real deficiency, although that could change if Luis Diaz and Federico Chiesa depart. But for now, it’s a center-back where some supporters may feel some understandable concern.
Following the departure of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen, the Reds have just three senior options in that role - Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate - and fans won’t forget how the last defense of Liverpool’s Premier League title panned out.
An unimaginable defensive injury crisis during 2020/21 resulted in the Reds making hasty, flawed transfer decisions and deploying midfielders as auxiliary center-backs. Alarmingly, the second aspect is driving the transfer policies this summer, with Slot willing to play Watru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch at the heart of defense if needed. Few will be keen on that prospect.
The Reds are interested in Marc Guehi, even if his profile doesn’t match the sort of defender Liverpool would usually target. However, given that he is an England international with a year remaining on his contract, the Crystal Palace captain could be available for a reduced fee and prove an exception to the rule.
Others have been linked, such as Ajax’s Jorrel Hato, Everton youngster Jarrad Branthwaite, Catsello Lukeba of RB Leipzig, and Murillo, who impressed for Nottingham Forest last term.
That Luca Stephenson and Kostas Tsimikas have played at center-back in pre-season underlines the dearth of options available, while Amara Nallo, the most highly rated young defender on the club’s books, was omitted from the first-team squad that flew to Hong Kong on Sunday.
Despite Liverpool’s relative calm, it would feel like a foolish decision if the squad were to contain just three senior center-backs come September 2. There are other, more long-term factors underpinning that rationale.
Firstly, Gomez’s injury record is cause for concern, and history suggests his availability cannot be relied on for an entire season.
Konate has also endured his fitness issues, but was available for eight out of nine months in the 2024/25 season. That the Frenchman has not signed a new contract and continues to be linked with an exit next summer is another reason for alarm bells to be ringing.
Meanwhile, Van Dijk may be showing no signs of slowing down, but at 34, it would be prudent to already have plans in place before his performances begin to dip. The captain has just two years remaining on his contract, which could well mark the endpoint of his glorious Anfield career.
Remarkably, since his arrival in 2018, Liverpool has only made one significant addition to its center-back ranks, when Konate signed four years ago.
It’s an admirable record that speaks to the efficiency and planning of FSG - but changes in this department feel inevitable over the coming transfer windows. In fact, it remains a real possibility that by the summer of 2027, all four senior center-backs from last season will have moved on.
They’ll need to be replaced, starting with at least one new arrival this window.
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