Liverpool can sign Dominik Szoboszlai ‘replacement’ and Arne Slot should unleash duo together

Liverpool will always look back on the 2023 summer transfer window as a curious time. It did not know then that it would be the last under Jürgen Klopp, never mind that Arne Slot would be the chosen successor — but the churn behind the scenes was very clear, with Jörg Schmadtke appointed on an ad hoc basis as the third sporting director in as many years.

While Alexis Mac Allister arrived at the start of the window under the guidance of Julian Ward, the remaining three additions — Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endō and then Ryan Gravenberch — arrived in what was effectively a period of limbo at the club. They will go down as the first and only signings outside of some kind of Michael Edwards structure since his initial appointment as sporting director in 2016.

Edwards himself left in 2022, but had trained up Ward to take over. With Klopp on his way out, both have now returned in different guises, and will play significant roles in shaping future transfer strategy.

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Even Schamdtke was not exactly taking the lead on the trio of summer signings after Mac Allister had been secured. He has admitted that he thought the deal for Szoboszlai was 'too expensive' at first, only for the club to decide to sign him anyway.

But while the rapid construction of a clear backroom structure in recent weeks has been a welcome development, with a huge array of talent coming (or returning) to the club, the 2023 signings cannot and will not be left in the wilderness. To varying degrees, all should have a role to play under Slot.

While Endō was only ever likely to be a medium-term option, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch were signed for the future. They will need to prove themselves under Slot, and neither are guaranteed prominent positions under the new boss, but there's no reason to fear they will fall between the cracks that divide two eras.

Szoboszlai in particular has already shown a taste of what he can do. Though he has gone off the boil, he started the season in electrifying form, showing what a dynamic presence he can be in the midfield.

Interestingly, though, he had been playing a slightly different role for RB Leipzig. Most of the time, he was something like a narrow right winger — not altogether different to the right-sided number eight position at Liverpool, but not a million miles away from the Mohamed Salah role either.

Since he's left, it's mostly been Dani Olmo featuring there, having spent more time on the other flank last season. And having signed Szoboszlai, Liverpool is now being linked with his replacement.

According to Sport, the Premier League's 'big six' are attentive to Olmo, with Liverpool firmly in that mix. Having recently turned 26, the Spaniard has been linked with a move away for some time now, but perhaps this could finally be the moment for a player who has never been afraid of forging his own unique path to make his next move.

Olmo raised eyebrows when he traded the Barcelona academy for Dinamo Zagreb in 2014, but has enjoyed an impressive rise since then, more than justifying his decision. Having effectively replaced Szoboszlai this season, he has become even more of a creative hub, with his expected assists ranking him in the 94th percentile among attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe's top five leagues over the last year (FBref).

Should he reunite Olmo and Szoboszlai, Slot would have plenty of options. One of the most tantalizing is using them as the pair of number eights at Liverpool, perhaps with Alexis Mac Allister behind them. That midfield would be a hugely technical unit capable of cutting through deep defenses, while also posing plenty of goal threat and work against the ball.

Alternatively, with questions over Salah's long-term future, one of Olmo and Szoboszlai could take residence over on the right, mirroring RB Leipzig's approach. As a left-footer, the Hungarian is the more natural fit, although his former teammate perhaps offers more by way of replicating the Egyptian's playmaking function.

Either way, Olmo looks like a pretty sensible player to be targeting. There might be a brand new structure in place, but it could do a lot worse than returning to Leipzig's right wing for the first addition of the Slot era.