Arne Slot's Liverpool will be a side to watch out for in January.placeholder image
Arne Slot's Liverpool will be a side to watch out for in January. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool may get the opportunity to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window
Liverpool are in the unique position where this January, Arne Slot and the club’s hierarchy may look to strengthen what is already one of the most expensively-assembled squads around.
The Reds smashed Premier League spending records when the reigning champions splashed over £400million in the summer, raising many eyebrows and ultimately not seeing their vast spending pay off as of yet.
Alexander Isak has struggled to remain fit and often looks a shadow of himself when on the field, Jeremie Frimpong has had two extended injury lay-offs already, while Florian Wirtz has garnered criticism for his slow adaptation period to the division. Milos Kerkez has found himself rotating with Andy Robertson, while the man viewed by many as the Reds’ best signing of the campaign, Hugo Ekitike, had only scored three times in the league before striking a double in each of the last two matches.
Further spending in January would, therefore, be unorthodox, but could also be necessary. Liverpool’s extensive transfer income for the likes of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz last summer means that there may yet be the room to go big once again.
Liverpool wait in the wings ahead of Kenan Yildiz move
According to reports from Italian outlet Tutto Sports, Liverpool are eyeing up a swoop for Juventus starlet Kenan Yildiz as a ‘summit’ between the 20-year-old and his current employers continues.
The Reds join Real Madrid and Chelsea in being ready to make a move if negotiations between the Turkey international and his club continue to stall. The winger is said to be demanding a contract of €6m-a-year (£5.3m) to line up with summer signing Jonathan David and the Old Lady’s current highest earners, feeling that such a deal would line up better with his importance to the club than his current €1.5m-a-year deal.
These are said to be ‘key days’ for Yildiz as both his father Engin and super agent Jorge Mendes are in town, with negotiations set to reach an important stage. More important than the money to Yildiz is thought to be his role within the Juve squad, and seeing this reflected in his new contract. Talks have been going on for ‘months’ but saw an interruption a few weeks ago, with the summit expected to occur before Christmas.
Liverpool wait in the wings in case the situation were to go south, with the player boasting interest from several clubs ‘openly built to excel’ in a way in which Juventus have struggled to do in recent years.
Reds monitoring situation involving 39 g/a Yildiz
His record of 22 goals and 17 assists for Juve since joining the Italian giants in 2023 has led to the rapid rise of his global profile, and the former Bayern Munich youth product has a current transfer value of €75m according to Transfermarkt, with his current deal running until 2029 and a major proposal likely to be needed to convince the Turin giants to sell.
The situation surrounding Yildiz is set to be one of interest to keep an eye on in the coming weeks, with Liverpool primed and ready to move if whispers continue of the player’s contractual discontentment at Juve following the proposed ‘summit’ discussions.
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