Whereas Liverpool’s scouting community is huge – and is simply set to increase additional – there could possibly 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 degree, it’s an thrilling summer time for these at Liverpool.
There’ll undoubtedly be adjustments made to the squad Jurgen Klopp left behind, with departures potential and enchancment the purpose, and the online can be forged extensive for targets.
However with the Premier League proving a helpful catchment space in recent times, together with the signings of Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister and Diogo Jota, there could possibly be enterprise to be performed nearer to dwelling.
With that in thoughts, listed here are 10 Premier League gamers Liverpool ought to goal.
Mohammed Kudus (West Ham)
Age: 23
Place: RW/LW
Nationality: 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 considerations throughout the Reds recruitment employees over the step as much as England’s prime flight, these can 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 – together with his lung-busting working capacity and work ethic seeing him cowl a lot of the pitch.
With Mo Salah getting 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: 22
Place: LB
Nationality: Algeria
With succession planning required in a variety of positions, this summer time may see these transfer into gear in relation to left-back.
Andy Robertson turned 30 in March and, whereas he nonetheless has years left in him, could should be managed extra rigorously, 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 recurrently 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 underneath his belt and appears to own the mix of athleticism, aggression and talent on the ball to finally succeed Robertson.
Michael Olise (Crystal Palace)
Age: 22
Place: RW
Nationality: England
One other, maybe much less seemingly, choice to proceed the regeneration of Liverpool’s assault could be Palace’s much-sought-after Olise.
The Reds’ recruitment employees are identified to carry curiosity within the 22-year-old, who continues 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 straightforward to see why: Olise is a devastating presence at his greatest, which noticed him rating 10 objectives and lay on six assists in his 19 video games within the season simply gone.
There are two pink flags, nevertheless.
Firstly, in that persistent hamstring accidents restricted him to only 19 appearances in 2023/24, and secondly, reviews that his contract at Palace features a launch clause price round £60 million.
If there may be trigger to imagine that this was only a blip in his health file, in fact, 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: 21
Place: CB
Nationality: 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 by which the 21-year-old solely began 13 video games in his pure centre-back function for Chelsea, with 14 extra coming at left-back, whereas he misplaced his place fully after damage.
With Chelsea needing to steadiness their books to keep away from any additional points with the Premier League‘s spending guidelines, it is sensible that Colwill could be thought of on the market – with any deal price 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: 24
Place: RW/ST
Nationality: Cameroon
One other risk for the ahead line, Liverpool are mentioned to have expressed curiosity in Mbeumo forward of the switch window.
It stands to motive, with the Cameroonian proving himself adept at Premier League degree 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 prime flight.
These numbers will not be Liverpool commonplace, however they could possibly be seen as scaleable at a membership with a extra confirmed shops 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 aim in Brentford‘s 3-1 win over Liverpool in 2023.
Capable of play on the proper and up entrance, he could possibly be a sensible acquisition if out there for the proper value.
Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth)
Age: 20
Place: LB
Nationality: Hungary
Richard Hughes‘ appointment as sporting director may current an avenue to a different left-back goal in Bournemouth teenager Kerkez.
Even earlier than the Hungarian made the change to Dean Court docket there have been ideas 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 can 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 function at Liverpool, however he could possibly be an thrilling long-term mission.
Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa)
Age: 24
Place: DM
Nationality: France
Regardless of the relative success of each Mac Allister and Wataru Endo within the function, for varied causes Liverpool ought to go into the switch window nonetheless in quest of 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 best way 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 will surely translate to Liverpool.
However any transfer for Kamara can be seen as a big gamble, with the midfielder at the moment present process rehabilitation for an ACL damage suffered in February.
Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton)
Age: 23
Place: CB
Nationality: Netherlands
Exploring the info in relation to potential centre-back targets, Brighton defender Van Hecke stands out as a surprisingly appropriate candidate.
The Dutchman is extraordinarily snug in possession – within the 97th percentile amongst centre-backs for passes tried, 93rd for move 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; robust, perceptive and cheap within the air – although not confirmed on the degree 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: 34
Place: GK
Nationality: England
Lastly, an choice that appears to have been on Liverpool’s radar for years.
McCarthy will technically head into the summer time with no Premier League membership, out there 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 could possibly be a shrewd addition as third-choice goalkeeper.
