Liverpool transfer update: What do Premier League runners-up need to do in the summer transfer window? We take a look in our pre-season feature Got, Got, Need
What do the Champions of Europe have to do to finally become domestic champions once again? We look at Liverpool's transfer focus for the summer.
Jurgen Klopp's side had an amazing season, but there's always room for improvement and you suspect they need to strengthen just to even be able to replicate last year's league performance - while they need to somehow find a way of toppling Man City in the league...
Got: The best player in the world?
Virgil van Dijk is the PFA Player of the Year and was Man of the Match in the Champions League final, but he’s also odds-on favourite to win the Ballon d’Or ahead of both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and his stock just continues to rise with every dominant performance he produces.
He’s also got that now well-publicised stat of not being dribbled past at all during the season – which essentially means approximately zero but just goes to add to the mystique now being built up around the Dutchman.
And while a lot of this is media hype, having a player like that does help when going into games as opposition players and managers will alter their game plans, trying to avoid running into Van Dijk at every opportunity.
Although there’s a lot of bluster and over exaggeration surrounding Van Dijk, he is the best defender in the Premier League and has every single attribute needed to become a colossus for both club and country, he’s already half there, and he’s a huge asset for Liverpool.
Got: Fearsome firepower
Liverpool scored 89 league goals last season, only Man City got more, and bagged another 24 in the Champions League and in Sadio Mane and Mo Salah had two-thirds of the three-way tie for Premier League Golden Boot. Yes, Liverpool had a more solid defence and pragmatic attitude last season but they’re still full of goals.
Salah responded brilliantly to question marks being raised about him being a one-season wonder, while Mane was arguably Liverpool’s best player all season with his tireless running and continuous goal threat bring him to the fore.
Roberto Firmino even had a few injury problems and still managed to score 12 league goals and four Champions League strikes while, surprisingly, Divock Origi came from nowhere to score of the most crucial goals in the club’s season – late winners against Everton and Newcastle, two against Barcelona and one against Spurs in Madrid.
The only caveat to all this comes with all of Liverpool’s front three being busy this summer at the African Cup of Nations and Copa America – they’ll need a break and all three may struggle to start the season.
Got, Got, Need!
Need: A midfield threat
If you take out James Milner’s penalties it was a poor goal return from Liverpool’s midfield – with Van Dijk scoring more than any of them. Xherdan Shaqiri started the season looking like a strong impact sub or first change, but his season fizzled out somewhat, leaving just Georginio Wijnaldum’s five goals of any note.
The fact that Jurgen Klopp chops and changes so much in midfield may not help, and in his engine room he does like to play with fresh legs and values energy and endeavour above initiative and attacking threat, but if there is one area his team can improve on it’s getting goals from midfield.
Jordan Henderson looked comfortable playing further forward when allowed to break in behind the forwards, but he’s never going to be a goal machine so a lot will depend on Naby Keita and the returning Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain next season - who has spent a year out with injury.
Dream signings
Matthijs de Ligt, Kylian Mbappe, Philippe Coutinho
Pairing De Ligt with international centre-back partner Van Dijk would be an absolute fantasy for Liverpool fans, and the Ajax skipper was linked with Liverpool even before he led his team on their memorable Champions League run, but it now looks like Juventus or Barcelona are his likely destinations of choice.
Some social media action had Mbappe linked but that soon turned out to be just pie in the sky - but Coutinho could be a genuine option given his struggles at Barca in his first season - but a lot there would depend on the player's desire to return and whether it would upset the team spirit Klopp has spent so long nurturing.
Likely signings
Junior Firpo, Nabil Fekir, Timo Werner, Memphis Depay
Spain Under-21 international Firpo seems well on Liverpool's radar but a £45m release clause may be a bit steep even for big-spending Klopp for a player they mainly see as cover for Andy Robertson at left back.
Nabil Fekir may still have the Liverpool shirt he wore for promotional shots before his move to Anfield fell through last summer, but he's still not off the menu while German forward Timo Werner is another long-term target that may go through this summer.
Former Man Utd man Memphis Depay is odds-on to move to Liverpool this summer, which seems like a brave move on both parts!
Odds of the likely signings
- 10/11 Memphis Depay
- Evens Nabil Fekir
- 6/5 Nicolas Pepe
- 7/4 Bruno Fernandes
- 7/4 Junior Firpo
- 7/2 Timo Werner
- 4/1 Kylian Mbappe
- 4/1 Hakim Ziyech
- 5/1 Ousmane Dembele
- 6/1 Philippe Coutinho
- 6/1 Ruben Neves
- 7/1 Isco
- 12/1 Callum Hudson-Odoi
- 25/1 Matthijs de Ligt
Odds correct as of 1535 BST on 23/06/19
Follow Sporting Life on social media - find us on Facebook here or tweet @SportingLifeFC
Related football links
MOST READ FOOTBALL
FOOTBALL TIPS
