Liverpool are showing signs of a resurgence after going undefeated in their last 10 games, but Arne Slot has moves at his disposal that could kick the comeback into the next gear
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, smiles prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool and Leeds United at Anfield
Arne Slot has a number of moves at his fingertips in a bid to once again get the best out of Liverpool(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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After a disastrous run of autumn form, Arne Slot is looking to make up for lost time in an effort to put Liverpool back on top. The Reds are undefeated in 10 games across all competitions and still in the hunt for two titles realistically following the Christmas swing.
One new signing has already arrived on Merseyside in January after 17-year-old Mor Talla Ndiaye joined from Senegalese club Amitie. However, the club would do with more than the £1million signing this month if they're to get back to their former heights.
Conor Bradley's season-ending injury has created a void at right-back that could need addressing sooner rather than later. However, that's only the tip of the iceberg regarding potential moves Liverpool could make to keep correcting their course.
Conor Bradley cover
Bradley's nightmare ACL injury against Arsenal was recently confirmed to be just about the worst-case scenario as he prepares for surgery on his knee. Slot already has one Netherlands international alternative in Jeremie Frimpong, but the summer signing has looked more adept in a more advanced wing role thus far at Anfield.
However, there's another Dutch prospect who could make perfect sense given Slot is well-educated on the talents of Givairo Read. Not only did he hand the 19-year-old his Feyenoord debut back in 2024, but the player is known to be an admirer of Liverpool.
Read was asked to choose between Manchester United and Manchester City as his preferred Premier League destination last year. Instead, he took the opportunity to state his allegiances in a manner that is sure to have gone down well at Anfield.
"Liverpool, for sure! Nothing else, no-one else," came his response. Personal motivations can often prove key when forcing deals over the line, and links between Liverpool and Read are already gathering pace in light of Bradley's injury.
The key is striking a balance so that there isn't too much expectation among players fighting for similar spots once Bradley returns. But given Read's age and the fact Frimpong may make more sense as Mohamed Salah's successor when the Egyptian moves on, a deal to sign Read now could prove logical regardless.
£73m star signs deal
Speaking of logical decisions, there's evidence to suggest Liverpool would be smart to tie Dominik Szoboszlai down to a new deal in the near future. The free-kick maestro is almost three years into his Anfield venture and is looking every bit worth his reported £60m investment, touted by many fans as a future captain of the club.
It may seem as though any player contracted until 2028 is no immediate concern for the club. However, getting ahead on these kinds of deals is precisely the kind of behind-the-scenes work that has earned CEO Michael Edwards and director Richard Hughes such praise in recent years.
Dominik Szoboszlai speaks with Arne Slot
Dominik Szoboszlai has quickly climbed the ranks o become one of Liverpool's most valuable stars(Image: Getty Images)
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Not to mention the fact Szoboszlai - who is currently valued at £73m, according to Transfermarkt - isn't alone in that regard among Liverpool's midfield. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister also have contracts currently due to expire in a little more than two years' time.
It would be nothing short of a 'Defcon 1' scenario if all three components in Liverpool's midfield make-up were allowed to run those deals down as they stand. Staggering those expiration dates would be more logical to limit the risk of an exodus in one fell swoop, starting with the heroic Hungarian.
Szoboszlai will be 27 and still (in theory) enjoying his prime years when his contract is currently set to run out. Moreover, given his astute work filling in at right-back and other roles when called upon, handing the player an extension at this early stage feels like a very low-risk, high-profit manoeuvre.
Sign Konate replacement
A more immediate contract concern is Ibrahima Konate, who will leave Slot's side on a free transfer at the end of this season as things stand. And while Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi is the centre-back fans have been baying for, Rennes' Jeremy Jacquet is another reportedly on the Reds' radar.
The Parisian would by no means offer the same presence of Premier League-proven Guehi, who will also be available for free in the summer. However, the France under-21 international has been a near-constant in Rennes' defence during his first full campaign in Ligue 1.
Konate isn't Liverpool's only concern in central defence given Virgil van Dijk has struggled to match his old heights this season. Italian prodigy Giovanni Leoni also looks set to miss the rest of the season following an ACL injury, leaving Joe Gomez and almost invisible Rhys Williams as the only other natural alternatives.
Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet looks on during a match
Jeremy Jacquet has swiftly established himself as one to watch at Rennes this season(Image: Getty Images)
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Getting Jacquet, who turns 21 in July, out of Brittany would be no straightforward task given he's so highly rated and is also being linked with both Arsenal and Chelsea. The player signed an extension until 2029 in May last year and isn't known to have a release clause in his contract.
That being said, the player is understood to earn somewhere in the region of just £15,000 a week, a figure the Reds could multiply to coax him away from Rennes. And while Guehi has been the centre-back on everyone's lips at Anfield for some time now, Jacquet offers another affordable option with arguably an even higher ceiling given his age profile.
Konate's contract is a growing issue with no concrete signs of an extension in sight. To make the argument for an early replacement even more compelling, the Frenchman hasn't been short on suitors.
Real Madrid were being linked with the player but have seemingly eased in their interest. Paris Saint-Germain have been touted as a potential destination to bring Konate back to France, while Bayern Munich could resurrect his Bundesliga career.
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