Liverpool are the only team to have managed to snatch the Premier League title from Manchester City since Chelsea’s triumph under Antonio Conte in 2016/17, but the team built by Jurgen Klopp which rose to such, perhaps unexpected heights, has gradually come near the end of the road. Arne Slot, having taken the reins from the charismatic German a year ago, has also surprised the football world by leading the squad he inherited to the title in his first season, in very comfortable fashion too.
But the time for big changes has come, and at this point, it seems Liverpool have taken the task very seriously.
An unwanted need to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who chose not to extend his contract and join Real Madrid as a free agent, had arisen, and the Premier League champions wasted no time on that front. They managed to get a €10million fee to let the right-back leave a month early and sealed a €35million deal with Bayer Leverkusen for Jeremie Frimpong to step into the role.
They’ve now completed the deal, potentially rising to a new British record of £116million, for Florian Wirtz as well, and an agreement has reportedly been reached for Milos Kerkez to join from Bournemouth. Most recent reports claim Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi could be next in line for a move to Anfield.
Florian Wirtz is a Red. pic.twitter.com/g8Sw65eGxT
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 20, 2025
Apart from Alexander-Arnold, other outgoing transfers are on the cards too, with Caoimhin Kelleher already sold to Brentford, Jarell Quansah closing in on a move to Leverkusen, Darwin Nunez attracting interest from Italy and Saudi Arabia, and Harvey Elliott openly speaking about the need to move in order to get more game time. Andy Robertson could also leave, with Atletico Madrid said to be interested in the experienced left-back.
There are rumours about the future of Diogo Jota being uncertain, while the club are expected to rebuff any interest in Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo. Apart from all that, the contract situation with Ibrahima Konate will have to be sorted soon, with only a year remaining on the current deal with the France international. Liverpool will, of course be happy that they’ve managed to settle the issues of captain Virgil van Dijk and Premier League Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah, who both signed new contracts recently.
If Nunez and Jota leave, the Reds will obviously need a new centre-forward. They would, reportedly be in the conversation for Newcastle star Alexander Isak if the Sweden international is allowed to leave St. James’ Park this summer, but at this point that seems unlikely.
Replacing the still raw talent of Quansah with a Premier League-proven player like Guehi, and even more the arrival of Wirtz while Elliott walks towards the exit door, indicate that the gap in quality between regular starters and backup players in the squad will be significantly reduced and the competition for starting spots increased, which can only be a good thing as it should enable Liverpool to compete very seriously on all four fronts. The main goal will likely be to retain the Premier League title and give a good go at a number seven in the Champions League as well.
The summer’s transfer activities should also provide Slot with options to shift things around against any opposition, be it Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup of Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Slot has clearly shown he has what it takes to win big things, but he will now face a task rather different to the one he mastered so successfully upon joining the club. He now needs to make this new, exciting-looking squad, function as a unit.
At this point, there is no reason to doubt the Dutchman’s ability. One thing is certain – Liverpool will be an exciting team to watch in 2025/26.
