Even with Liverpool on course for the Premier League title, there are still areas for the Reds to improve – and Arne Slot knows that.
The Dutchman looks set to win the top prize in his first season in England, and there’s every chance he could make it a treble, with a Carabao Cup final and the Champions League knockout stages still to come. In anyone’s books, that’s a remarkable debut campaign.
It’s made all the more impressive when you consider he’s still using the same squad left by Jurgen Klopp with just the one new addition, and he’s only made a handful of appearances in any case. This summer though, Liverpool needs to be more active in the transfer window.
Slot has acknowledged that himself recently, although it won’t just be a case of adding anyone to bolster the squad. If they’re going to play for the champions-elect, they’re going to have to meet some pretty high standards.
While discussing Mohamed Salah’s future, Slot said during his press conference on Tuesday: “If you want to be at this club, you need to be at his level, otherwise you are almost useless to play at this club. We only need players who are at the top of their game because this is one of the best clubs — or the best club — in the world to play for.”
That’s not all Slot has had to say on Liverpool’s transfer plans. Just last week, he revealed: “We are looking at every single position and we are looking at the team.
“I think it’s clear to you that I’m not going to tell you which positions we prefer, but it is clear that we’ve assessed the squad, we’ve assessed what we think where we can improve, and that’s where we try to go for in the summer.”
So, if Slot is expecting all of his players to reach the same standards as Salah, that creates a pretty high bar for his team next season. That means Liverpool will have to go big.
First of all, if we’re talking about a dream line-up, then that will absolutely have to include the trio whose contract situations remain unresolved. After all, Salah is the benchmark for this team, and Virgil van Dijk will probably be on an equal footing in Slot’s eyes.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is perhaps the one question mark. Out of the three, he does look the most likely to depart, but Liverpool will still hold out hope that he chooses staying at Anfield over moving to Real Madrid this summer.
Then it’s a case of looking at which areas need improving, with two obvious areas that need addressing. Up top, Darwin Nunez’s race looks like it’s run after nearly three years, and Diogo Jota can’t be relied upon to stay fit for an extended period, while at left-back, it’s clear that an heir to Andy Robertson needs to be found.
If we’re talking a dream scenario, then there are two names that stand out. Alexander Isak at Newcastle would be a sensational option to bring in alongside Salah and Cody Gakpo in the front three, while Milos Kerkez looks set to be one of the Premier League’s outstanding full-backs in the future.
Both will not come cheaply, especially Isak, and Kerkez has already thrown a move to Anfield under considerable doubt. But if Salah is the benchmark, then Liverpool can’t do things by half.
Adding those two would leave Slot with a side that is undoubtedly stronger compared to this season, which is saying something. He of course will also have Giorgi Mamardashvili to come in, although if Alisson Becker is planning on staying around, then the Brazilian should hold onto his No.1 spot for next season.
But is there anywhere else Liverpool could improve. Well, Jamie Carragher certainly thinks so, having called for a new attacking midfield option.
It does feel harsh on Dominik Szoboszlai, who has been such an integral part of this season’s success, but there is one name who would undoubtedly be an upgrade in the No.10 role. Florian Wirtz will have plenty of suitors in the summer, with the Daily Mail claiming Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid are all in the running – it would be one hell of a coup if the Reds managed to secure the Bayer Leverkusen star’s signature.
Dream Liverpool line-up for 2025/26: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.