Liverpool have been in excellent form of late, and manager Arne Slot could look to strengthen his squad further with potential January moves including one familiar face
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, smiles prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool and Leeds United at Anfield
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Following a disastrous spell of form over the autumn, Arne Slot is eager to make amends and restore Liverpool to their former glories. The Reds are unbeaten in 11 matches across all competitions after last night's win over Barnsley and remain realistic contenders for two titles after the festive period.
January has already seen one new arrival at Merseyside after 17-year-old Mor Talla Ndiaye joined from Senegalese club Amitie. However, if they're to return to their previous heights, the club could do with more than just the £1million signing this month.
The season-ending injury to Conor Bradley has left a gap at right-back that may need filling sooner rather than later. Yet this is just one of several potential moves Liverpool could make to get back on track.
Cover for Conor Bradley
Bradley's devastating ACL injury against Arsenal has been confirmed as just about the worst-case scenario as he prepares for knee surgery. Slot does have Netherlands international Jeremie Frimpong as an alternative, but the summer recruit has so far seemed more comfortable in a more advanced wing role at Anfield.
However, there's another Dutch prospect who could be an ideal fit given Slot's familiarity with the talents of Givairo Read. Not only did he give the 19-year-old his Feyenoord debut back in 2024, but the player is also known to be a fan of Liverpool.
Read was asked last year to pick between Manchester United and Manchester City as his preferred Premier League destination. But he instead seized the moment to declare his loyalties in a way that would have delighted Liverpool supporters.
Givairo Read of Feyenoord runs with the ball during the Dutch Vriendenloterij Eredivisie match between Feyenoord and FC Volendam at Stadion Feijenoord
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - NOVEMBER 1: Givairo Read of Feyenoord runs with the ball during the Dutch Vriendenloterij Eredivisie match between Feyenoord and FC Volendam at Stadion Feijenoord on November 1, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Hans van der Valk/BSR Agency/Getty Images)(Image: Hans van der Valk/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
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"Liverpool, for sure! Nothing else, no-one else," was his emphatic reply. Personal preferences can often be crucial in getting transfers across the line, and speculation linking Liverpool with Read is already intensifying following Bradley's injury setback.
The challenge lies in finding the right balance to avoid creating excessive competition among players vying for similar positions once Bradley is fit again. However, considering Read's age and the possibility that Frimpong might be better suited as Mohamed Salah's replacement when the Egyptian eventually departs, securing Read's signature now makes a lot of sense.
£73m star signs new deal
On the subject of sensible decisions, there's mounting evidence to suggest Liverpool would be wise to offer Dominik Szoboszlai fresh terms in the coming months. The set-piece specialist is approaching three years at Anfield and is proving himself well worth his reported £60m fee, with many supporters tipping him as a potential future club captain.
While any player under contract until 2028 may not appear an urgent priority, being proactive with such agreements is exactly the sort of strategy that has earned CEO Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes such widespread acclaim. It's worth noting Szoboszlai - currently valued at £73m, according to Transfermarkt - is not the only Liverpool midfielder with a contract set to expire that same summer.
Dominik Szoboszlai speaks with Arne Slot
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Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are in the same boat, and it would be nothing short of a disaster if all three key components of Liverpool's midfield were allowed to let their contracts run down as they stand. It would be more sensible to stagger these expiration dates to avoid the risk of a mass departure all at once, starting with the impressive Hungarian.
Szoboszlai will be 27 and theoretically still in his prime when his current contract is due to end. Given his adept performances filling in at right-back and other positions when needed, offering the player an extension at this early stage seems like a low-risk, high-reward move.
Konate replacement arrives
A more pressing contract issue is that of Ibrahima Konate, who, as it stands, will depart Slot's team on a free transfer at the end of this season. While Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi is the centre-back fans have been clamouring for, Rennes' Jeremy Jacquet is another reportedly on the Reds' radar.
The Parisian may not offer the same Premier League-proven presence as Guehi, who will also be available on a free transfer in the summer. However, the France under-21 international has been a near-constant feature in Rennes' defence during his first full campaign in Ligue 1.
Konate isn't the only worry for Liverpool in the heart of defence, as Virgil van Dijk has been struggling to replicate his previous form this season. To add to their woes, Italian sensation Giovanni Leoni is likely to be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to an ACL injury, leaving Joe Gomez and the seldom-seen Rhys Williams as the only other natural options.
Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet looks on during a match
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Securing the services of Jacquet, who turns 21 in July, from Brittany won't be a walk in the park given his high regard and links with both Arsenal and Chelsea, per Football Insider. The young talent extended his contract until 2029 last May, and it's not known whether there's a release clause in his deal.
However, it's understood the player earns around just £15,000 per week, a figure Liverpool could easily increase to lure him away from Rennes. While Guehi has been the talk of the town at Anfield for some time now, Jacquet presents another cost-effective option with arguably even greater potential given his age.
The issue of Konate's contract is becoming increasingly pressing with no clear signs of an extension on the horizon. Adding fuel to the fire for an early replacement, the Frenchman hasn't been short of admirers.
Real Madrid were previously linked with the player but appear to have cooled their interest. Paris Saint-Germain have been suggested as a possible destination to bring Konate back to France, while Bayern Munich are said to be interested in offering him a chance to reignite his career in Germany.
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