Liverpool's summer transfer window has been defined by a mix of strategic reinforcement and high-profile exits.
The departures of Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz have left gaps in the Reds’ squad, prompting Arne Slot and sporting director Michael Edwards to seek both immediate impact and long-term value.
With a Champions League campaign to contend with and a Premier League title defence underway, the urgency to reinforce the spine of the squad has become paramount.
So far, Liverpool have bolstered their ranks with Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike, blending young talent with proven performers.
The opening weeks of the season have seen the side make a strong start, with victories over Bournemouth and Newcastle.
Yet, the club are now targeting the gaps which remain ahead of the closing days of the transfer window.
Central to this strategy is Liverpool’s ambition to secure a transformative duo - a forward capable of dominating the final third and a defender who can anchor a restructured backline.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot looks on
Liverpool manager Arne Slot looks on
Reports suggest that at least one of these players is expected to join before Deadline Day, potentially rewriting the club’s transfer narrative in a manner few signings have in recent memory.
Liverpool hoping to complete double deal
According to journalist Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are "very optimistic" about concluding deals for both Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi, although financial realities may dictate that only one is completed initially.
The Swedish striker, valued at around £130m, has made his desire to leave Newcastle abundantly clear.
newcastle-united-champions-league-alexander-isak
Isak did not feature in Newcastle’s opening Premier League fixture against Aston Villa and is expected to remain sidelined as the club works to finalise his transfer.
The arrival of Nick Woltemade for £69m has cleared a pathway, enabling the Magpies to consider sanctioning the deal.
On the defensive side, Liverpool have identified Palace captain Guehi as a solution to a backline in transition.
Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi during the warm up before the match
With Virgil van Dijk entering his thirties, Ibrahima Konaté nearing the end of his contract, and Jarrel Quansah sold to Bayer Leverkusen, the Reds face a pressing need for a centre-back capable of delivering both consistency and versatility.
Guehi’s contract is entering its final year, and while Palace value the England international at £40m, Liverpool are reportedly holding out for a reduction, mindful of the player’s ambition to secure regular game time ahead of next year’s World Cup.
A modern-day Suarez and Carroll
The potential arrival of Isak and Guehi represents a seismic shift for Liverpool, both in tactical terms and in financial prudence.
Historically, the Reds have made headline-grabbing acquisitions such as Luis Suárez and Andy Carroll.
Luiz Suarez's record at Liverpool (timeless)
Suárez, signed for approximately £22.8m from Ajax, became a club legend, scoring 82 goals in 133 appearances and winning the FWA Footballer of the Year in 2014.
Carroll, by contrast, was a £35m British-record signing whose impact was underwhelming, netting just 11 goals in 58 appearances before a £15m exit to West Ham.
Isak and Guehi present a dual solution that combines the promise of Suárez with the physical presence Liverpool initially sought in Carroll, without the risk of underperformance.
Alexander-Isak-statement-Newcastle
Isak has emerged as one of Europe’s most prolific forwards, scoring 23 goals and providing six assists in 34 Premier League matches last season.
He also contributed in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, demonstrating his capacity to deliver in high-pressure moments.
|Alexander Isak - 2024/25|
|Matches Played|24|
|Goals|23|
|Assists|6|
|Progressive Carries|83|
|Progressive Passes|88|
Source: FBref
Guehi, meanwhile, made 34 appearances for Crystal Palace last season, contributing three goals and excelling defensively with 4.6 clearances and 1.8 tackles per game.
He is also effective in ball progression and offensive phases. According to FBref, he ranks in the 98th percentile for through balls and the 88th percentile for shot-creating actions among centre-backs.
At 25, Isak is entering his prime, with a 2024/25 campaign marked by 29 goal involvements, 3.1 shots per 90 minutes, and 2.71 progressive carries per 90, reflecting his ability to drive play while finishing efficiently.
His progressive passing distance of 53.7 metres per 90 and shot-creating actions of 3.01 per game highlight a forward capable of linking with teammates and influencing wide and central zones alike. Meanwhile, Guehi offers a rare blend of defensive solidity and technical intelligence.
His aerial dominance, tackling efficiency, and ability to progress the ball are complemented by an unusual offensive contribution for a centre-back, ensuring Liverpool can build from the back while retaining a threat during set-pieces.
In a system that relies heavily on full-backs and ball-playing defenders, his 77th percentile ranking for crosses and 75th percentile for switches per 90 minutes underlines his compatibility with Slot’s tactical philosophy.
Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi reacts
Taken together, Isak and Guehi constitute a more complete strategic investment than the club’s previous marquee signings.
Where Suárez delivered pure offensive output and Carroll offered raw physicality with mixed results, this duo promises a combination of scoring prowess, versatility, and adaptability that could provide immediate returns while underpinning Liverpool’s long-term squad structure.
For a club with ambitions of Premier League supremacy and deep European runs, securing both players would represent not merely squad reinforcement but a redefinition of transfer strategy - a calculated, high-value investment in proven performers with a capacity for sustained impact.
Should Liverpool succeed, the window will be remembered as one of the best in the club’s history - eclipsing previous transfers in both scope and quality.