Liverpool's 25-man squad with three more signings could leave Man City and Arsenal scared

3 months ago 107

It's been a bustling summer at Anfield for the Premier League champions, who will sport a new look when they kick off the new season against Bournemouth on Friday, August 15.

Liverpool has splashed nearly $268 million on fresh talent following their 20th title victory last season. The standout signing is Florian Wirtz, who arrived for a record-breaking $134M fee that could potentially rise to $156m with add-ons.

The full-back positions have been bolstered by the signings of Jeremie Frimpong for $40M and Milos Kerkez for $54M. Giorgi Mamardashvili has also joined Slot's squad after a year-long loan spell at Valencia, while Freddie Woodman was snapped up on a free transfer to boost the homegrown quota.

However, the Reds' recruitment team isn't finished yet. They're currently in the midst of negotiations to sign a striker, with Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike being the preferred choice.

Advanced talks are underway with Eintracht for the French forward, who celebrated his 23rd birthday last month. After an impressive season with 22 goals and 12 assists, Ekitike is keen on the move and is expected to command a fee of around $107M.

And he might not be the only fresh face in Liverpool's attack this summer.

Darwin Nunez is likely to depart, and Luis Diaz could follow suit. The 28-year-old Colombian has expressed a desire to leave Liverpool for Bayern Munich, with his contract set to expire in 2027 and no signs of an extension or pay rise on the horizon. The Reds have reportedly slapped an $114M price tag on Diaz.

Liverpool looks to be closing in on a transfer for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike

If Bayern comes anywhere near that valuation, Rodrygo could be the chosen successor. The 24-year-old Real Madrid forward only clocked up 92 minutes out of a possible 540 at the recent Club World Cup under new manager Xabi Alonso.

The ex-Liverpool midfielder's system restricts Rodrygo's playing time, and he is expected to command a fee similar to Diaz's.

Liverpool's chief executive of football, Michael Edwards, has long admired the Brazilian and had his eye on him back in 2017 when he was just 16. Rodrygo chose Spain instead and has since racked up an impressive 68 goals and 51 assists in 270 appearances.

His total playing time across those games (16,152 minutes) equates to just 180 full matches, suggesting he could be a potent force under Slot.

Rodrygo could come in if Liverpool sells Luis Diaz

A front four comprising Ekitike, Rodrygo, Mohamed Salah and Wirtz - with Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa as rotation options - would be a formidable sight. However, the growing likelihood of Ibrahima Konate departing on a free transfer in 12 months' time is also a daunting prospect.

This means Liverpool will need a new centre-back, having let Jarell Quansah move to Bayer Leverkusen. Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi is a strong contender for the role.

With his contract expiring in a year, he could be snapped up for a bargain price. Having just turned 25, Guehi is homegrown and ambidextrous.

He could easily step into Virgil van Dijk's shoes or partner with Konate or Joe Gomez.

The England international would add a sixth homegrown player to Liverpool's roster for the 2025-26 season (joining Woodman, Frimpong, Gomez, Jones and Conor Bradley). Despite his contract situation, he could command a fee of around $54M, which is reasonable for a defender known for his prowess in one-on-one duels and ball control.