Liverpool have had a somewhat slow start to the summer transfer window, although they could yet pull off some exceptional moves that leave Andoni Iraola's squad in a perfect place heading into the next season.
The Reds endured a dire 2025/26 season, finishing fifth on 60 points, 25 points behind eventual champions Arsenal. Iraola has arrived from Bournemouth, replacing the divisive Arne Slot in the Anfield dugout, looking to stabilise things and push the Merseyside club back towards competing for major silverware.
However, to give the Basque manager the best possible chance of doing so, the roster needs a major overhaul. Jeremy Jacquet has arrived from Rennes in a £60million deal - agreed last summer - while Osasuna winger Victor Munoz has signed for around £35million.
Meanwhile, stalwarts from the previous iteration of Liverpool, Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson have all left on free transfers.
Significant work still needs to be done. With that said, GIVEMESPORT have laid out exactly what a perfect summer 2026 transfer window would look like for Liverpool.
Liverpool's perfect summer transfer window - outgoings
cody gakpo
Cody Gakpo - £60m
Liverpool have renovated the forward positions in their squad over the last 12 months, allowing Salah, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz to all leave Merseyside. They should look to complete this attacking rebuild this summer, and that includes selling Cody Gakpo, arguably the player in their squad they're willing to cash in on who can command the biggest fee.
Reds fans grew frustrated with Gakpo and his ineffectiveness in the final third last season. Thus, it makes sense that they move on from him and promote promising teenager Rio Ngumoha into a more senior role.
Tottenham are interested in signing Gakpo, and Liverpool are confident that they can extract around £60 million for the Dutchman's services.
Curtis Jones - £35m
Despite his undeniable talent, Curtis Jones has always just about been on the periphery of Liverpool's squad. With the player's contract expiring next summer, and a new deal not really justifiable, Iraola and the key decision-makers at Anfield must make the difficult decision to sell the academy product.
Inter Milan are understood to be potential suitors for Jones, who could command upwards of £35 million.
Harvey Elliott - £20m
Harvey Elliott's reputation took a beating at Aston Villa last season, as he was left out to dry by the Villans' boss Unai Emery. He returns to Liverpool with his stock at an all-time low, and desperate for a new place to call home.
That said, still just 23, there should be a market for Elliott. Crystal Palace have been loosely linked with the playmaker, and while the £35 million buy option that Villa declined to trigger isn't likely to be met, somewhere in the region of £20 million is plausible.
Federico Chiesa - £12m
Federico Chiesa has hardly featured for Liverpool since his 2024 move from Juventus. For his own sake, he cannot afford to spend another year rotting on the bench in the north-west.
No longer the prodigy Italian winger he once was, the Reds would do well to extract in excess of £10 million from a Chiesa sale.
Wataru Endo - £6m
Like Jones and Chiesa, Wataru Endo didn't play a prominent role for Liverpool last season. He's likely to leave the Premier League giants this summer, and isn't likely to attract a substantial fee, given he turned 33 in February and played just 12 matches in 2025/26.
If Liverpool can get £6 million for Endo, they'll feel it's a good bit of business.
Stefan Bajcetic - £5m
Stefan Bajcetic is another promising talent Liverpool have allowed to fade towards obsolescence. The Spaniard has endured two underwhelming loan spells in a row, at RB Salzburg and then Las Palmas, and is now unlikely to fetch anything north of £5 million.
Calvin Ramsey - £3m
Struggling to adequately develop young talents has become a recurring theme at Anfield. Calvin Ramsey is another whose potential won't be fulfilled, at least at Liverpool, as the 22-year-old searches for a new place to ply his trade following several years without any meaningful minutes.
Liverpool's perfect summer transfer window - signings
Adam Whartonvia Reuters
Adam Wharton - £100m
Liverpool have been crying out for an out-and-out number six for some time now. Ryan Gravenberch has done a valiant effort in this role in recent years, but the Reds now need to invest a significant sum in one of the league's best midfielders to build around for several years to come.
Adam Wharton is the obvious target, and Crystal Palace are said to be demanding around £100 million for the England international. Given the likes of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have gone for similar fees, this would be a reasonable price for the Reds to pay for one of the most highly thought-of talents in the Premier League.
Bradley Barcola - £128m
Bradley Barcola remains Liverpool's priority target for their attack this summer. The Frenchman could become available if Paris Saint-Germain land Yan Diomande, although he's likely to cost in the region of £90million, at a minimum.
There have even been reports that the French side could demand £128million to sell the 23-year-old this summer.
Given he can operate off the right and off the left, he makes sense for a Liverpool side losing Salah and potentially losing Gakpo.
Djed Spence - £40m
Right-back was a problem area for Liverpool last season, with Conor Bradley suffering an ACL injury and Jeremie Frimpong struggling with the physicality of the Premier League. Trent Alexander-Arnold may never be properly replaced given the uniqueness of his profile, but the Reds must at least attempt to rebuild this area of their squad this summer.
The north-west club are reportedly eyeing a £40million for Djed Spence, who would be the perfect signing for Iraola. Not only can Spence play in certain games ahead of the likes of Frimpong and Bradley as a more defensively astute option, he can also cover for Milos Kerkez at left-back if the Hungarian doesn't make the improvements to his game that he needs to.