Liverpool boss Arne Slot keeps pointing to a season of transition and, while a portion of the fanbase is still reluctant to accept this, all things now lead to a heavy summer rebuild.
As far as objectives go, Liverpool have missed almost all of them this season. A title defence didn’t materialise, cup runs fell by the wayside and Champions League qualification, which should be a given for this club now, is still not quite secure.
Knowing fifth place also secures a seat at Europe’s top table next season, the Reds will need an implosion of humiliating levels to fail to stamp their passports for Champions League action.
In doing so, Slot and Co. will be tasked with going at a new campaign afresh, putting all mitigating factors behind and attempting to turn Liverpool into a force again once more. The only surefire way to do that is through signings.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 15, 2026: Liverpool's Arne Slot before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Slot’s recent words gave intriguing insight into the ongoing process. The Dutchman, rarely outspoken against the ownership, made clear that Liverpool need to acquire profiles this summer who will be first-team ready, able to fill the voids left by big names.
Speaking on Prime Video, Slot repeated the FSG party line policy of sustainable sell-to-buy operations, but interestingly added a curt reminder to his employers that capable reinforcements must arrive.
“We are losing Mo and Andy Robertson on a free transfer as we lost Trent on a free transfer, and this model of the club means that we have to sell usually to buy,” Slot said.
“As I said many times, the future looks very good, especially if we can add a few good signings after good players leave this summer.”
Slot made it clear that top stars leaving must be met with talent coming in through the door, and it is very apparent that several areas must be of focus.
Defensive reinforcements alongside the youngsters
LONDON, ENGLAND - Tuesday, March 7, 2023: Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck, almost lost in the yellow smoke, during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg game between Chelsea FC and Borussia Dortmund at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea won 2-0, 2-1 on aggregate. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool will enter next season with Virgil van Dijk creeping into the last 12 months of his extension, while longest-serving stalwart Joe Gomez is tipped to depart and Ibrahima Konate, though he is close to a contract extension, has not yet confirmed a contract extension.
Richard Hughes and his team dipped into the market for Giovanni Leoni last summer and secured the £50 million pre-signing of Jeremy Jacquet in January, but it would be entirely remiss not to target the back line again in the coming months.
Links with Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck continue to persist and for good reason.
The 26-year-old is seen as a high-value asset at the Westfalenstadion given his contract, which runs to 2031, is understood to have been handed out so Dortmund could protect his value ahead of a proposed future sale, with a release clause of around £50m.
Player Profile: Nico Schlotterbeck
Age 26
Position Centre-back
Nationality German
Dortmund Apps 161
Recoveries Per 90 5.04
Statistically ranked in the 89th percentile for ball recoveries in the Bundesliga (2025/26).
The German international fills in on the same side as Van Dijk, with composure and passing range on the ball up at the elite standard. Turning 27 years old in December, the age profile, though not fitting into the conventional FSG model, does remain in line with the bracket of player the club will make a move for should they be deemed an immediate starter.
At left-back, Slot has all but confirmed Kostas Tsimikas will return to deputise for Milos Kerkez following Andy Robertson’s departure.
Meanwhile, the problems seen at right-back this season, due to persistent injuries to Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong, mean it would not be unexpected to see strong interest in Denzel Dumfries reemerge, particularly if Inter Milan advance in their pursuit of Curtis Jones.
Slot has already publicly discredited Calvin Ramsay, while Dutchman Dumfries represents a minimal cost, maximum experience recruit, in a similar manner to when Liverpool brought in Wataru Endo.
Full midfield overhaul
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 28, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates with team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai (L) after scoring the third goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The centre of the park is expected to be hit hardest, despite a recent restructure during Jurgen Klopp’s final season at the club.
The old Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Gini Wijnaldum model had been filtered out for Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch.
While the three still remain major components, the likelihood of Mac Allister ending his time on Merseyside appears to be rising.
Szoboszlai has played out of position for much of the season, while Gravenberch has had his own job description tweaked to an obvious detriment. Jones is also expected to field offers so, given only Trey Nyoni remains on the bench, the Reds could need at least two starting-standard central midfielders this summer.
Squad Management
Midfield Contract Status
Current Standings as of April 2026
Player Expiry
Harvey Elliott 2027
Curtis Jones 2027
Stefan Bajcetic 2027
Wataru Endo 2027
Alexis Mac Allister 2028
Dominik Szoboszlai 2028
Ryan Gravenberch 2032
Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is slated to move this summer; the Eagles have held on to the England international with the intention of triggering a bidding war.
The 22-year-old is entering the final two years of his contract, meaning Palace can now extract maximum value out of a player who has showcased expert line-breaking passing ability and a reading of the game well beyond his years.
Palace find themselves in a financial chokehold hence the recent sales of both Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi. Each of Man City, Man United and Chelsea have registered interest in £75m-valued Wharton, while the same trio are reported to have contacted Nottingham Forest regarding Elliot Anderson.
The potential relegation of Forest would almost certainly see Liverpool join the Anderson conversation, ahead of the youngster playing a key role in England’s forthcoming World Cup plans.
Prioritising wingers is crucial
3DR18JJ Leipzig, Poland. 15th Feb, 2026. Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig seen during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg at Red Bull Arena. Final score RB Leipzig 2 : 2 VfL Wolfsburg. (Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News
If there is any one region Liverpool must improve as a non-negotiable, it is on the flanks.
The recent Achilles tendon injury sustained by Hugo Ekitike does somewhat add confusion to the striker situation, though Slot this week rightly asserted that Liverpool now look astute for bringing in two high-profile centre-forwards.
But with Alexander Isak leading the line and Florian Wirtz tucked just in behind, Liverpool absolutely need firepower out wide.
Club legend Mohamed Salah is calling time on his Reds career and Cody Gakpo has struggled for huge patches of the campaign. It has been both telling and humbling for a 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha to frequently come on and look like the brightest, most natural winger the club possesses.
Here is the updated code for your winger options. I have removed all red text—changing the highlighted goal and assist statistics to a bold black/dark grey—while keeping the structure clean and minified to prevent automated ad injection.
Scouting Department
Summer 2026 Winger Options
Player Foot Age 25/26 League G+A
Yan Diomande (Leipzig) Right 19 19
Michael Olise (Bayern) Left 24 30
Yankuba Minteh (Brighton) Left 21 6
Rayan (Bournemouth) Left 19 6
Takefusa Kubo (Sociedad) Left 24 6
Bradley Barcola (PSG) Right 23 12
Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) Left 29 16
Stats include league goals and assists as of April 21, 2026.
This all boils down to where the majority of Liverpool’s summer budget is to be allocated, and all fingers point to RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande.
The 19-year-old has been a revelation in his breakthrough campaign and looks every bit a fit for a Salah sort of position. Quick, direct yet composed and clinical inside the area, Leipzig are reported to be holding out for a €100m fee, but there may be little room for negotiation given the lengthy list of suitors.
Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise has long been tethered to a possible Anfield transfer, but with his stock and importance at Bayern Munich still rising, the chances of prising the former Palace man away continue to become increasingly slim.
Should Liverpool go all in on Diomande and stick with Isak as the lone frontman in the absence of Ekitike, another versatile attacker will be needed to fill various job descriptions across the front line. Here, Bournemouth’s Rayan identifies himself as a highly attractive prospect.
The teenager has showcased a remarkable grasp of Premier League football despite his tender years, while playing in a team that try to monopolise possession under Andoni Iraola despite being underdogs in most fixtures. Selection for the Brazil national team followed as a result.
It is reported that Rayan signed his deal as Antoine Semenyo’s replacement with an £85m release clause, though this has the hallmarks of the Cherries hedging their bets with future returns.
After a highly promising debut campaign, room for negotiation still exists. It promises to be a long summer at Anfield but the admin must start immediately.
Much was made of Liverpool’s £420m business 12 months ago, but with a net spend of £228m coming in lower than title contenders Arsenal, plenty of work remains to be done.
Man City are expected to invest lavishly this summer as they prepare for Pep Guardiola’s long farewell, while Man United are back in healthier financial waters and Chelsea continue to spend with wild abandon.
If last summer laid the foundations for Liverpool’s new era rebuild, the coming months need to sculpt the finished project.