LFC REINFORCEMENT : Kerkez, Nunez, Isak – Who Liverpool could sign and five sell in transfer window after first deal done

**LIVERPOOL FC REINFORCEMENTS: Kerkez, Nunez, Isak – Who Liverpool Could Sign and Five Players to Sell in the Transfer Window After the First Deal Is Done**

*Published on March 2, 2025, by Destiny Omodion*

The ECHO evaluates what Liverpool may aim for in the upcoming summer transfer window as Arne Slot and Richard Hughes work on reshaping the squad.

Arne Slot and Richard Hughes are planning a busy summer transfer window for Liverpool.

Since taking over at Anfield, Slot has focused more on evolving the squad rather than making drastic changes. His tactical adjustments and positional tweaks have been the most visible alterations. Slot has frequently mentioned the quality of the squad he inherited from Jurgen Klopp.

Last summer, only Federico Chiesa was signed, arriving from Juventus for a bargain £12m. After Martin Zubimendi chose to remain at Real Sociedad, Liverpool decided not to pursue a backup plan, with Ryan Gravenberch thriving in the deep midfield role under Slot.

However, Slot admitted last month that he and sporting director Richard Hughes have a clearer understanding of what additions are needed in the upcoming window. Despite Liverpool’s commanding 13-point Premier League lead, Slot revealed that recruitment efforts are underway behind the scenes.

“We’re assessing every position and the team as a whole,” Slot said. “We mentioned this last season and summer, that we didn’t do much [in the transfer window] because we wanted to understand how players adapted to me as a new manager.”

“We now have a better understanding and, while I’m not revealing which positions we favor, it’s clear we’ve assessed the squad and know where improvements are necessary. That will guide us in the summer.”

A £57m pre-tax loss reported recently shows the effect of missing out on Champions League football, but with their return to an expanded and more lucrative European competition, Liverpool’s financial situation should improve significantly. Having spent only £12m on transfers over the last 18 months, Liverpool should have considerable flexibility in the summer.

Here, The ECHO takes a look at the potential moves Liverpool might make as Slot and Hughes reshape a squad that could very well be Premier League champions by the end of the season.

**Goalkeeper**

There will likely be changes in the goalkeeping department this summer. Georgia international Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to join from Valencia for £29m, raising questions about Caoimhin Kelleher’s future.

The Irishman, who has filled in excellently for Alisson Becker during his absence, is entering the final year of his contract, making this the last opportunity for Liverpool to receive a transfer fee that matches his true value.

Although Liverpool has previously rejected offers for Kelleher, the arrival of Mamardashvili to challenge Alisson could prompt the Irish goalkeeper to seek a new club. However, Liverpool will demand a fair price for him, as they’ve previously turned down offers they deemed insufficient, such as one from Nottingham Forest.

Vitezslav Jaros, whose contract is also nearing its end, could leave as a free agent. Having played two matches for Slot’s side, Jaros performed well, particularly in a Carabao Cup win over Brighton. On loan at Sturm Graz, where he won a league and cup double in Austria, Jaros could be on his way out unless a contract extension is negotiated.

**Defence**

Liverpool has been linked with a left-back in recent months, with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez being the most frequently mentioned. Hughes, who was Bournemouth’s sporting director when Kerkez was signed in July 2023, offers deep knowledge of the Hungarian international.

Liverpool is well-positioned to pursue Kerkez if they choose to do so this summer. Other left-backs mentioned in the rumors include Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri and Miguel Guerrero of Girona.

**Midfield**

Liverpool’s midfield looks relatively stable regarding potential movements. Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai are still under long-term contracts signed in the summer of 2023, and Curtis Jones extended his deal in November 2022.

Wataru Endo has yet to start a Premier League match under Slot, and there was previous interest from Marseille last summer. Harvey Elliott has also found himself on the fringes this season but has dismissed rumors of an exit, with clubs like Brighton and Borussia Dortmund linked.

With Zubimendi’s decision to stay at Real Sociedad last summer, it remains uncertain if Slot feels his midfield options are sufficient, but a departure for players like Endo could lead to a reassessment. Tyler Morton, recovering from shoulder surgery, may push for a move this summer, with Championship clubs and Bayer Leverkusen showing interest last year.

**Forwards**

The forward line is the area that will attract the most attention this summer. Liverpool rejected interest from the Saudi Pro League in January for Darwin Nunez, preferring to retain their squad for the second half of a season where they are aiming for Premier League success.

Despite this, Nunez’s future remains uncertain as he has only scored six goals this season, falling short of the 18 he netted under Klopp last year. Slot expressed frustration with Nunez’s drop in work rate, particularly following a notable miss against Aston Villa. AC Milan and Saudi clubs could revisit Nunez’s situation this summer.

Diogo Jota seems to be the player Slot trusts more in the central forward role, but his injury problems have limited his playing time, totaling just 821 minutes out of a possible 2520.

Luis Diaz has been linked with Barcelona, though there’s little indication that Liverpool is concerned about the Colombian’s future.

Sweden’s Alexander Isak, a 19-goal striker at Newcastle United, has also been mentioned as a potential target. Isak’s contract situation, with no new deal signed yet, could make him an attractive option for Liverpool.

**Contracts**

Slot recently acknowledged that the contract situations of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold will play a significant role in Liverpool’s summer transfer plans.

“It’s still quite an important two or three months to go,” Slot said when discussing summer preparations. “We have some contracts to manage, so there’s a lot of work behind the scenes, but my focus remains on the current squad.”

Salah expressed disappointment in late November about not receiving a new offer, and while he has provided few updates since, he has been less open about his future. Van Dijk has also been evasive about his long-term plans, likely avoiding distractions during the crucial stage of the campaign. Alexander-Arnold hasn’t publicly addressed his contract status since September.