Liverpool transfer rumours: Three players Arne Slot could sign in January and two he probably won’t
Defending champions Liverpool may look to use the January window to their advantage
After losing three successive games across all competitions, Liverpool have left themselves with a bit of work to do if they are to get back to the summit in the Premier League and Champions League.
The Reds were the biggest spenders in Premier League history over the summer, but are still a little bit behind their imperious best which has opened the door to last year’s runners-up Arsenal along with Manchester City, who are slowly sneaking back up the table after a lacklustre start.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot won’t be panicking at this point. After all he still has arguably the best team in the country and will be confident that much more is to come from stars such as Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and most notably British record signing Alexander Isak in the weeks and months to come.
However, what is clear is that despite spending upwards of £400m on new recruits, there’s still some gaps in Liverpool’s squad to fill. But will they rectify this in January? Here based on recent rumours we take a look at three likely Liverpool targets - and two that we’re unlikely to see at Anfield this winter at least.
Three Liverpool-linked targets that make perfect sense at this stage
Marc Guehi: The January transfer window represents the last opportunity for Palace to cash in on Marc Guehi after his failed £35m move to Liverpool on transfer deadline day. The champions couldn’t have made it more obvious that they were interested in the player after pushing for him all summer. "If I had to put money on it, I would say he's going to end up next summer playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona,” said Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol.
However, despite these comments it’s hard to see Liverpool giving up on this one without a fight, particularly with Ibrahima Konate’s recent dip in form.
Antoine Semenyo: Liverpool are in the market for a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah. The 33-year-old has just over 18 months left on his contract and has not yet hit the heights he managed last season. Antoine Semenyo, meanwhile, is currently one of the most in-form players in the division, having scored six in seven matches, and is understood to be admired by transfer guru Richard Hughes. He’s valued at around £75m making it a tricky deal to negotiate, particularly as he’s just signed a new deal, but his numbers at present currently seem impossible to ignore.
Ousmane Diomande: According to a report from Fichajes, Diomande has emerged as a genuine target for Liverpool. The 21-year-old AFCON winner has won back to back titles with Sporting CP and is considered one of the best young defenders around. He has been linked with Manchester United in the past but is a target that makes real sense at this moment in time.
Two players Liverpool are unlikely to sign in January
Michael Olise: Champions Liverpool have been linked with a blockbuster move for Michael Olise. The French international enjoyed a stellar first season in the Bundesliga, scoring 20 and producing 23 assists for Bayern Munich across all competitions. He’s definitely a viable target for Liverpool given his recent track record but it’s hard to see the Reds paying the £130m required after already breaking the British transfer record twice in the summer window. He’s also a guaranteed starter at Bayern which he wouldn’t automatically be at Liverpool at this moment in time.
Julian Alvarez: Former Manchester City gem Julian Alvarez was reportedly the subject of interest from Liverpool after a stellar first season with Atletico. However, after the signings of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, it seems unlikely Liverpool would return to the table for a player that’s likely to cost in excess of £100m.