REUTERS/Peter Powell
Following the appointment of Julian Ward as Liverpool's new sporting director, it appears as though the Merseyside outfit could be set for a busy 2027 in the transfer market.
Liverpool did see four senior players arrive at Anfield during the summer, with Bradley Barcola the headline signing following his move from Paris Saint-Germain for an initial £106m fee.
Jeremy Jacquet linked up with the squad for the first time six months after the Reds signed him from Rennes, while Ronald Araujo joined on loan from Barcelona to cover the centre-back and right-back positions.
Both defensive players appear to be more than useful additions to Andoni Iraola's backline, although it remains to be seen whether Araujo will end up making the move on a permanent basis at the end of the season.
Like Barcola, Liverpool also signed another winger who prefers to play from the left-hand side in Victor Munoz, which all means they have some gaps left to fill in the squad.
The Reds are still yet to sign an out-and-out right-winger to replace Mohamed Salah, and they need a right-back too if they decide Araujo isn't the long-term solution there.
On the opposite flank, Iraola must decide whether Milos Kerkez is good enough for where the club wants to be in the near future - fighting for the Premier League title again and being genuine contenders to win the Champions League.
Positions Liverpool May Need to Strengthen in 2027:
Right-back
Right-wing
Central midfield
Centre-back
Left-back
Goalkeeper
They also have two big contract expirations hanging over them in Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, with both players due to leave Merseyside at the end of the season as things stand, when their deals run out.
Ward and Iraola must decide whether either player deserves an extension and, if not, whether they need to be replaced.
One position we do know there will definitely be an addition next year is in central midfield, with Alexis Mac Allister expected to leave and the club already failing to replace Curtis Jones this summer.
GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs has already revealed that Monaco's Lamine Camara is a 2027 target.
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are also already in contact with Aurelien Tchouameni's camp over a potential move, even though the France international recently agreed a new long-term contract with Real Madrid.
Tchouameni Key to Florian Wirtz's Liverpool Future
Aurelien Tchouameni
Aurelien Tchouameni
Wirtz suggested after Germany's win against Serbia on Thursday that he thrived because of the movement of the surrounding players, which perhaps was a subtle dig about the shortcomings of his teammates at Anfield.
Wirtz may feel that his Liverpool teammates aren't allowing him to perform to the best of his ability on Merseyside, but so is the absence of a top out-and-out defensive midfielder.
Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch are all good players and while the latter was outstanding during the club's Premier League title success in the 2024-25 campaign, he hasn't been great since and his starts have been limited under Iraola this term.
Liverpool's midfield uncertainty has created more defensive workload for whoever is playing in the No.10 role, including Wirtz.
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Florian Wirtz (Premier League 2026-27)
Matches
Starts
Goals
Assists
Chances created
Distance covered
Defensive contributions
Tackles
Recoveries
If the Reds had a world-class defensive midfielder like Tchouameni shielding the defence and sweeping up opposition attacks, it would leave the Germany international with more time to do his thing in the final third, as he gets more used to playing with the likes of Barcola.
Lamine Camara would be a top signing for Liverpool, but there is a feeling that Tchouameni is another step above the Senegal international, with his former teammate Chema Andres making his feelings clear on the £85m Frenchman previously, saying:
Tchouaméni is the best defensive midfielder in the world.
Tchouameni is one appearance from 200 for Real Madrid, while his importance for an elite nation in France shows just how good he is, and one of the best in his position in world football.
There will always be a lot of pressure on players who cost more than £100m to perform, and while we continue to see glimpses of the quality that Wirtz has, it's just not happening on a consistent enough basis right now, and he does need to show more.
The addition of Tchouameni would be the key to Wirtz finally exploding at Anfield, having largely flattered to deceive in a red shirt so far.
Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola