Liverpool are in store for a very busy January when the transfer window re-opens
Four games into the new Premier League season and we’ve already hit the first international break of the campaign. Great.
In truth, the break has come at both a good and bad time for Liverpool. On one hand, it halts momentum with Reds currently third in the table and unbeaten in their last 15 matches dating back to last April.
On the other, it allows the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Ibrahima Konate, and Trent Alexander-Arnold to recover from injury without missing any club games, while Stefan Bajcetic makes his own playing return after six months on the sidelines away from the heat of the Anfield fire pit with Spain Under-21s.
Meanwhile, the break has also given deadline day signing Ryan Gravenberch a two-week window to acclimatise to his new surroundings following his £40m switch from Bayern Munich, having spurned a Netherlands Under-21s call-up to stay on Merseyside.
Now the dust has settled on an up and down transfer window for Liverpool, the Reds will be quietly pleased with their summer business after Gravenberch helped complete an £150m midfield overhaul. And with the Saudi Arabian market closing on September 7, they have successfully seen off Middle Eastern efforts to lure away Mohamed Salah. For now.
While it was a very busy summer for Liverpool, they could have an active January also. So, with 113 days until the transfer window re-opens (Forgive us, it’s the international break), let’s take a look at what the Reds need to be mindful of this winter…
Saudi transfer speculation
It’s inevitable, isn’t it? Having caught Liverpool off-guard by moving for Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, it would be no surprise if the Saudis came calling at Anfield again in January. After all, they were also interested in Thiago, Luis Diaz, Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate and, of course, Salah this summer according to reports.
As a result, expect a whole new wave of transfer speculation to hit these shores as 2024 comes into sight.
Admittedly, a mid-season Salah exit is unlikely, and not just because Liverpool were adamant he wasn’t for sale this summer. For starters, part of the reason why Al-Ittihad were so keen on signing the Egyptian now is because they are taking part in the FIFA Club World Cup in Jeddah in December.
Liverpool have three players out of contract next summer, meaning all three are free to talk to overseas clubs about pre-contract agreements from January.
Thiago and Joel Matip are two such players. Both were linked with exits this summer, but ultimately stayed put. However, both are expected to move on at the end of their current deals. Free to discuss Bosman transfers, the possibility of the Reds taking their last opportunity to sell for a fee can also not be ruled out.
Third-choice goalkeeper Adrian is also out of contract and can talk to foreign clubs in January. However, if recent seasons are anything to go by, his future is more likely to be decided at the end of the campaign.
Duo depart for international duty.
One reason why Salah is unlikely to be sold in January is because he is due to captain Egypt at this winter’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Getting underway on January 13, the tournament runs until February 11 with it possible that Liverpool could be without the services of the forward for up to 10 games as a result.
The 31-year-old could miss at least five matches, with four coming in the Premier League, if the Pharaohs reached the final. Throw in potential progression in the FA Cup and League Cup and such a total rises to eight games, with the possibility of replays in the former even ruling Salah out of a potential 10 outings.
It would have been a huge statement for Saudi Arabian football to have the game’s most high-profile Muslim player competing in that tournament on home soil, as they look to upset Man City and be crowned champions of the world. While the trophy is still in their sights, that Salah ship has sailed for this season.
That won’t stop the speculation though, with the Saudis expected to come calling for Salah again next summer. And while he might not be likely to be on the move in January (more on that below), that’s not to say another Liverpool won’t be on the Gulf State’s radar. And some might even be allowed to follow in Fabinho and Henderson’s footsteps and move on…
Jurgen Klopp is well-stocked in attack at least, with Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo, or Luis Diaz all capable of starting on the right if required. Alternatively, the German could take the opportunity to turn to Harvey Elliott or Ben Doak in attack.
However, Salah isn’t the only Red set for international duty in January, with Japan captain Wataru Endo set to compete in the AFC Asia Cup in Qatar. The tournament runs from January 12 to February 10, with the midfield set to miss the same run of fixtures as a resul
Japan have been drawn in Group D with Indonesia, Iraq, and Vietnam, with their final group-game set to take place on January 24. His absence would leave teenager Bajcetic as the only recognised holding midfielder available to Klopp, though Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones, or even Thiago could all temporarily fill such a voi
Liverpool face a Premier League double-header at home to Chelsea and away at Arsenal on January 31 and February 3, as things stand. As a result, they’ll be keeping an ever closer eye on Egypt and Japan’s international exploits as they wait to see if the pair will return in time for either matc
Sign Salah replacemen
Now in the past whenever Salah has been set to report for AFCON duty, Liverpool have been linked with signing a new forward to temporarily replace him. Each time, Klopp has batted such a suggestion awa
However, could this season be different? Throw in Darwin Nunez to Jota, Gakpo, and Diaz and the Reds do boast five senior attacking options. But ongoing speculation regarding a Salah exit to Saudi Arabia will only ramp up the number of potential replacements cropping up in the gossip column
Aware they could lose Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino in the summer of 2022 and 2023 respectively, Liverpool did essentially sign their replacements the previous January in the forms of Diaz and Gakpo. Could they adopt a similar transfer tactic with Sala
While a 2024 exit is by no means certain for the Egyptian, at the very least the club’s recruitment will be monitoring the players on their longlist of potential successors.lh?s.y.t?h.d.t.tial successors.
recruitment will be monitoring the players on their longlist of potential successors.
New centre-back
Klopp admitted last May that he would have liked to sign a new centre-back this summer, only for Liverpool’s midfield revamp to end up taking priority. Consequently, the Reds were unable to add to their defensive ranks.
But they will need to sign a new centre-back at some point in the next 12 months, ahead of Matip’s expected departure next summer. As a result, is it a position they could strengthen in January?
Considering they have been stung by Virgil van Dijk picking up a two-game suspension and Konate suffering a muscle injury already this season, and both Matip and Gomez have had their injury problems in the past, signing a new centre-back is certainly a possibility they need to consider.
Andre is available
With Thiago out of contract next summer, Liverpool’s midfield overhaul might not end with their £150m summer revamp. They could be in the market for one more piece of the puzzle.
The Reds were interested in Fluminense midfielder Andre Trindade this summer, only to be informed that the Brazilian club had no interest in selling in what was their mid-season. However, they have admitted he will be available in January.
If Liverpool remain interested in the Brazil international, a winter switch could be on the cards.
Loan exits for youngsters
Both Doak and Jarell Quansah have already played in the Premier League, while Bobby Clark, who saw a deadline day loan move to Derby County blocked, and Conor Bradley, currently sidelined with a fractured back, will also be hungry to feature in the months ahead.
In Europa League meetings with LASK Linz, Royale Union SG, and Toulouse, as well as a League Cup third round meeting with Leicester City and FA Cup third round clash in the first weekend of January, Liverpool’s youngsters have at least eight games in which they will hope to be turned to amid rotation from Klopp.
Progress in the cup competitions and further opportunities will follow, while if starlets impress enough, they could hope for further Premier League chances also. But should game-time be limited, even with these added chances, ahead of reduced chances in the second half of the season, expect their situations to be re-assessed in January.
Sure, younger players will be kept around long enough to cover for the international absences of Salah and Endo and feature in the early rounds of the FA Cup. But if a good loan opportunity comes up towards the end of January, Liverpool will weigh it up after considering each starlet’s progress and involvement during the first half of the campaign.
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