Whereas Liverpool’s scouting community is huge – and is just set to develop additional – there may very well be good signings to make from the Premier League this summer time.
With Arne Slot now on the helm and a brand new recruitment employees in place at boardroom stage, it’s an thrilling summer time for these at Liverpool.
There’ll undoubtedly be modifications made to the squad Jurgen Klopp left behind, with departures doable and enchancment the intention, and the web will probably be solid vast for targets.
However with the Premier League proving a helpful catchment space lately, together with the signings of Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister and Diogo Jota, there may very well be enterprise to be carried out nearer to house.
With that in thoughts, listed below are 10 Premier League gamers Liverpool ought to goal.
Mohammed Kudus (West Ham)
Age: 23Position: RW/LWNationality: Ghana
Whereas at Ajax, Kudus was claimed to have been tracked intently by Liverpool scouts – however his transfer to the Premier League got here with West Ham.
If there have been issues throughout the Reds recruitment employees over the step as much as England’s high flight, these may have been allayed by an excellent for the Ghanaian.
In 48 appearances throughout the Premier League, Europa League and the Carabao Cup, Kudus scored 14 objectives and laid on six assists for West Ham.
He did so largely from the proper wing, however his versatility allowed him to additionally function on the left, as a No. 10 and up entrance – along with his lung-busting operating skill and work ethic seeing him cowl a lot of the pitch.
With Mo Salah coming into the ultimate 12 months of his contract and doubts over different wingers, Kudus could be the proper addition to start out the Slot period.
Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves)
Age: 22Position: LBNationality: Algeria
With succession planning required in numerous positions, this summer time may see these transfer into gear in the case of left-back.
Andy Robertson turned 30 in March and, whereas he nonetheless has years left in him, could have to be managed extra fastidiously, whereas Kostas Tsimikas is 28 and never of the extent required to start out week in, week out.
An attention-grabbing choice who has been frequently touted with a transfer to Merseyside is Ait-Nouri, who head into the summer time on the again of his most constant season but at Wolves.
Turning 23 in June, the Algerian already has 4 campaigns of Premier League soccer beneath his belt and appears to own the mix of athleticism, aggression and talent on the ball to ultimately succeed Robertson.
Michael Olise (Crystal Palace)
Age: 22Position: RWNationality: England
One other, maybe much less doubtless, choice to proceed the regeneration of Liverpool’s assault could be Palace’s much-sought-after Olise.
The Reds’ recruitment employees are recognized to carry curiosity within the 22-year-old, who remains to be eligible for each England and France, having been linked with a deal so long as three years in the past when he was at Studying.
It’s simple to see why: Olise is a devastating presence at his finest, which noticed him rating 10 objectives and lay on six assists in his 19 video games within the season simply gone.
There are two crimson flags, nevertheless.
Firstly, in that persistent hamstring accidents restricted him to simply 19 appearances in 2023/24, and secondly, reviews that his contract at Palace features a launch clause value round £60 million.
If there’s trigger to imagine that this was only a blip in his health file, after all, then such an outlay for a participant of Olise’s expertise and potential will not be as farfetched because it appears.
Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
Age: 21Position: CBNationality: England
Simply as Jarell Quansah appeared to have put the Colwill saga to mattress for good, new claims of Liverpool’s curiosity within the Chelsea defender have emerged.
It comes after a season through which the 21-year-old solely began 13 video games in his pure centre-back position for Chelsea, with 14 extra coming at left-back, whereas he misplaced his place totally after damage.
With Chelsea needing to stability their books to keep away from any additional points with the Premier League‘s spending guidelines, it is smart that Colwill could be thought of on the market – with any deal value pure revenue as an academy participant.
A blockbuster switch may solidify Liverpool’s defence for a decade, with Colwill the left-sided foil to Quansah, however there are comprehensible doubts over whether or not it may occur.
Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)
Age: 24Position: RW/STNationality: Cameroon
One other chance for the ahead line, Liverpool are mentioned to have expressed curiosity in Mbeumo forward of the switch window.
It stands to cause, with the Cameroonian proving himself adept at Premier League stage for the reason that Bees’ promotion to the highest flight in 2021, with 22 objectives and 21 assists in his 98 video games within the high flight.
These numbers will not be Liverpool commonplace, however they may very well be seen as scaleable at a membership with a extra confirmed retailers for his or her forwards.
Mbeumo’s tempo and clever runs make him a harmful asset within the closing third, whereas he confirmed his physicality as he shunted Ibrahima Konate off the ball for his purpose in Brentford‘s 3-1 win over Liverpool in 2023.
In a position to play on the proper and up entrance, he may very well be a sensible acquisition if obtainable for the proper worth.
Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth)
Age: 20Position: LBNationality: Hungary
Richard Hughes‘ appointment as sporting director may current an avenue to a different left-back goal in Bournemouth teen Kerkez.
Even earlier than the Hungarian made the swap to Dean Court docket there have been strategies of curiosity from Liverpool, together with each Benfica and Lazio, which highlights the spectacular work of the Cherries’ then-technical director.
Kerkez then produced an attention-grabbing marketing campaign for Bournemouth that may have solely prolonged his line of suitors – and maybe garnered extra consideration from Anfield.
Removed from the completed product and with significantly extra required going ahead, Kerkez is unlikely to be able to step into the first-choice position at Liverpool, however he may very well be an thrilling long-term venture.
Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa)
Age: 24Position: DMNationality: France
Regardless of the relative success of each Mac Allister and Wataru Endo within the position, for varied causes Liverpool ought to go into the switch window nonetheless looking for a No. 6.
Villa midfielder Kamara was among the many choices reported to be into consideration final summer time, earlier than failed bids for each Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
The Frenchman then went into the season as an immovable starter in Unai Emery’s midfield, with solely suspension breaking an ever-present run within the Premier League that introduced 13 wins from 20.
Kamara is central to the way in which Emery’s Villa play, his press-resistence and positioning permitting him to progress play whereas holding agency when dropping alongside the 2 centre-backs, and that would definitely translate to Liverpool.
However any transfer for Kamara will probably be seen as a bet, with the midfielder presently present process rehabilitation for an ACL damage suffered in February.
Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton)
Age: 23Position: CBNationality: Netherlands
Exploring the information in the case of potential centre-back targets, Brighton defender Van Hecke stands out as a surprisingly appropriate candidate.
The Dutchman is extraordinarily comfy in possession – within the 97th percentile amongst centre-backs for passes tried, 93rd for cross completion, 96th for progressive passes and 82nd for progressive carries – having settled into Roberto de Zerbi’s daring system.
He’s additionally a strong, front-footed defender; sturdy, perceptive and affordable within the air – although not confirmed on the stage of Van Dijk, Konate or Quansah.
As he took in a protracted adjustment interval at Brighton there was even curiosity from Slot’s Feyenoord, and having been recognized by Tony Bloom’s enviable database of worldwide expertise, Van Hecke could also be able to taking one other step at Liverpool.
Alex McCarthy (Southampton)
Age: 34Position: GKNationality: England
Lastly, an choice that appears to have been on Liverpool’s radar for years.
McCarthy will technically head into the summer time with out a Premier League membership, obtainable on a free switch after his contract with promoted Southampton expires.
With it but to be decided whether or not Adrian stays or leaves, and with Liverpool needing to fill their homegrown quota, the one-time England worldwide may very well be a shrewd addition as third-choice goalkeeper.
