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Managing Liverpool - £150m deal, Salah and Alexander-Arnold contract decision and surprise transfer

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot during the Premier League match against Aston Villa at Anfield on November 9 2024
-Credit:James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images


The January transfer window is now open and Liverpool have the chance to strengthen their squad, should they wish to do so. Reports have been swirling for several weeks claiming to provide updates on the players that may be targets for the Reds this month.

Arne Slot has enjoyed an impressive first half of the season as Liverpool's new head coach. The Reds are top of both the Premier League and Champions League standings and will have confidence in being able to win at least one major trophy this season.

What may help Liverpool to achieve their goals this season is transfers, especially if the club wants to strengthen certain areas of the squad. It remains to be seen what business, if any, the Reds plan to conduct this month, and whether or not Slot will want to add any new faces to his squad.

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Here, the Liverpool ECHO takes a look at some of the deals the Reds may look to get over the line before the January transfer window closes.

Triple contract agreement

It may be the January transfer window, but the most talked about topic at Anfield is not about new signings, but about the contract negotiations for three existing members of their squad. Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are all out of contract at the end of the season, and talks remain underway over potential extensions.

Alexander-Arnold has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid. Liverpool have already rejected an approach from the Spanish giants that would have seen the right-back leave on a permanent deal before the February 3 deadline.

Salah and Van Dijk have also been frequently asked about their futures, but neither have agreed deals to extend their stays at Anfield, and the same applies to Alexander-Arnold. With all three players now able to speak to clubs over signing as a free agent at the end of the season, if Liverpool can agree extensions with any or all of the trio, it would make it a successful January transfer window.

Sign a defender

The injury to Joe Gomez has put a spotlight on the defensive options in Liverpool's squad. Van Dijk, Jarell Quansah and Ibrahima Konate are the Reds' only fit senior centre-backs until Gomez returns from injury.

There has also been speculation about Andy Robertson's long-term future, indicating that a new left-back may be targeted. As a result, Liverpool may want to try and sign either a centre-back or left-back before the transfer window closes.

Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi and Bournemouth full-back Milos Kerkez are two names who have been tipped to be targets for Liverpool in recent weeks. Financially, deals for either player may be tricky to complete given the reported price tags, but if the Reds have money to spend, then Guehi and Kerkez could be wise additions to their squad.

Surprise transfer

Away from contracts and potential new defenders, Liverpool have been linked with strengthening several other positions in their squad. One such area is the forward line, in particular striker.

Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has been tentatively linked with a move to Liverpool. The Magpies reportedly value the Sweden international at around £150million, with Arsenal also supposedly in the running.

Liverpool are yet to spend more than £100million on any player in their history, but were willing to do when they tried to sign Moises Caicedo in the summer of 2023. Could they do so again, this time with an attempt to sign Isak?