Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, applauds the fans following the team's victory during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at Stadio San Siro on December 09, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)placeholder image
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, applauds the fans following the team's victory during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at Stadio San Siro on December 09, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool have identified where they need to strengthen in January, could a cut price move for a former Premier League powerhouse solve their problems?
Liverpool have endured one of the worst runs in the club’s history this season and yet Arne Slot still has his team in the top four.
Retaining the Premier League is never easy and better teams than the current champions have failed even though spending over £400m should have put them in contention at least. A 10-point gap isn’t insurmountable but Arsenal and Man City are showing no signs of slowing down at the top of the table. Signing the right players in January might help to close it though.
Liverpool given green light to make bargain Ruben Neves swoop
Slot is starting to see more from summer signings like Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz with Hugo Ekitike leapfrogging Alexander Isak in the pecking order. Jeremie Frimpong was outstanding against Wolves and will now want to prove that he is the best right-back at the club. There were no new arrivals in midfield, however, Curtis Jones’ emergence as one of the best passers in the league has seen a much-deserved run in the team. Contract talks with Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are reported to be in the early stages. It remains Liverpool’s strongest are of the team and yet one position needs more depth.
Gravenberch has adapted well to playing on a more defensive role but there is a feeling that he is playing with the handbrake on. In the recent upturn in results, there has still be periods when there has been a lack of control and leadership in midfield and Liverpool could solve this by making a cut-price swoop for a player they have been linked with before. Ruben Neves, who was linked when Jurgen Klopp was in charge, is available for £20m as his contract in Saudi Arabia ticks down with a return to the Premier League being preferred by the former Wolves playmaker.
Fabrizio Romano on Ruben Neves’ transfer situation
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has updated Neves’ situation amid rumours of a possible move to Man United: “I wanted to clarify a couple of things, the first one about Ruben Neves, as I saw many of you asking me about what I said the other day here on the channel. Let me be clear, I didn't post anything on Ruben Neves on my social media, because there is no news on Ruben Neves in terms of negotiations, in terms of bids, in terms of talks.
“What Manchester United did is to be in touch with the agent who also represents Ruben Neves. But Man United didn't start a real negotiation with Ruben Neves, with Al-Hilal to sign the player. So at this stage, nothing is moving. They spoke about several players, not just Ruben Neves, several opportunities, something like ideas, opportunities, talents.
“Ruben Neves is represented by one of the most powerful agents in football. So that's something absolutely normal, but nothing has really changed so far.” Liverpool have a core of young players approaching their peak, signing an experienced operator like Neves for a bargain fee is a no-brainer.
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