Liverpool's nightmare, dream and most realistic summer transfer window signings

The 2025/26 season has been a disappointing one for Liverpool, with the club needing to do plenty of business this summer to return to the summit of the Premier League

Michael Olise would likely be Liverpool's dream summer signing(Image: Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)

The international break is now over, with Liverpool set to return to action this weekend when they take on Manchester City in the FA Cup quarterfinals.

To say this season has been a disappointing one for Reds supporters would be an understatement, given the heights they finished last term on after winning the Premier League in Arne Slot's first season in charge. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool's talisman for the last nine years, is set to depart at the end of the 2025/26 season, with plenty of other changes likely to happen this summer too.

While last summer's transfer spending spree was supposed to herald in an era of Premier League dominance for the Reds, who brought in Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike for huge fees, this season has exposed their lack of depth in certain positions. At the same time, other members of Slot's squad have seen their performances drop off a cliff in terms of form.

Despite it being a disappointing campaign, the Reds' season could still be salvaged by winning the FA Cup and or the Champions League. However, PSG stands in Liverpool's way in Europe, while qualification for Europe's premier club competition is still no guarantee with seven games left this season.

And with that in mind, Liverpool.com took a look at what Liverpool's dream, nightmare, and realistic summer would likely look like...

Dream summer

The dream summer for Liverpool would likely be one in which they sign Michael Olise from Bayern Munich, alongside a top left-sided center-back. Alessandro Bastoni has been linked with a move to Merseyside, but is also a target for Barcelona.

Nico Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund is also an option, and with him out of contract next summer, the German international will be available when the transfer window opens.

Liverpool have been linked with Alessandro Bastoni this summer(Image: (Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images))

Additionally, the Reds could probably do with bringing in another midfielder, with another player who has been linked to Liverpool. The Crystal Palace midfielder will not come cheap, especially with his contract running until 2029.

The signing of Olise would provide balance to Liverpool's attack. At the same time, the addition of Bastoni or Schlotterbeck, coupled with the arrival of Jeremy Jacquet and the return from injury of Giovanni Leoni, would give the Reds additional defensive depth, something they have lacked this season.

Additionally, they could do with bringing in a defender regardless of what happens with Ibrahima Konate's contract, which is up at the end of the season.

Nightmare summer

A nightmare summer for the Reds would probably look something like them spending too much time trying to land Olise, missing out on the French winger alongside other attacking targets, before ending up settling on a player like Jarrod Bowen.

The 29-year-old is undoubtedly a proven Premier League player and could be available on the cheap if West Ham get relegated, but his signing would be a short-sighted one, given the Reds would get absolutely nothing in return for him when they do eventually move on from Bowen.

Jarrod Bowen has been linked to Liverpool(Image: Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

In the eyes of former Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, the addition of Bowen is not something the Reds should be entertaining. "I really like Bowen and think he is a top player, but I am not sure he is Salah's level to replace him," said Gerrard on TNT Sports.

Additionally, losing Konate on a free would be a blow, even if his performances this term have left a lot to be desired.

Put simply, Liverpool's nightmare summer would likely be one in which they miss out on their top targets, and don't enhance their current squad with quality or depth, leaving them stretched once again.

Realistic summer

Thankfully for Liverpool supporters, the nightmare scenario is unlikely to happen, given that there will have been acknowledgment at the boardroom level that there are plenty of issues to fix this summer.

Bayern Munich insists Michael Olise is not for sale, and it seems unlikely Liverpool would spend too much time trying to land him if they know the Bundesliga side has no interest in parting with the Frenchman, who has only been there for two seasons.

Yan Diomande has been linked with a move to Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

However, one player they could target is RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande. The 19-year-old has impressed this season for RB Leipzig. At the time of writing, he has scored 10 goals and registered seven assists in 26 games in the Bundesliga this term.

The Ivorian winger can play on both flanks, although he predominantly plays off the right. It's unlikely any player who is available to Liverpool this summer could replicate Salah's goalscoring feats, but in Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, the Reds do have guaranteed goals in their frontline, even if the former's performances prior to his injury did not match his lofty price tag.

Anthony Gordon could be a target for Liverpool this summer(Image: 2026 Marc Atkins)

Additionally, Liverpool could probably do with another forward alongside Diomande. They held talks with Newcastle United over Anthony Gordon back in 2024, when the Magpies were in PSR trouble, but no move materialized. While Gordon is the Magpies' best forward, Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson did recently admit that the club would need to sell this summer, meaning the England international could be a name back on Liverpool's list of targets.

They absolutely need to sign a center-back, even if Konate doesn't leave, with Schlotterbeck likely an easier negotiation than Bastoni, given his contract situation. And with Andy Robertson also likely to leave this summer, they could do with bringing in another left-back too.