Former Liverpool Star Urges Club to Sign ‘Three or Four’ Players This Summer Regardless of Contract Renewals | OneFootball

Liverpool Transfers: ‘Three or Four Needed Regardless’ Warns Former Defender

The international break couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for Liverpool after crashing out of the UEFA Champions League and Carabao Cup in the space of just a few days.

First, it was a home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield before a crushing 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Thankfully, the Reds still sit 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League table and are just five wins away from clinching the coveted title once again, but this time in front of the fans.

Whilst the league title isn’t quite completely wrapped up just yet, talk over summer transfer plans are starting to ramp up. That’s not just about potential incomings, but also who could leave Liverpool this summer.

Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson spoke exclusively to Anfield Index and shared his thoughts on the upcoming transfer window for the Reds…

Photo: IMAGO

Potential Incomings

“It’s tough to say right now because of the contract situations of Virgil Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold,” began Johnson, “The contracts will play a huge part on Liverpool’s planning for the summer window.”

“I think they still need to sign three or four players regardless of what happens there and a striker has to be high on the list especially with Darwin Nunez likely to leave.”

The need for a striker has been evident over recent months, with Salah and Cody Gakpo carrying a huge amount of Liverpool’s goalscoring output recently. Arne Slot’s other attacking options are in a really poor run of form, with Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez scoring just three goals in their last 41 appearances combined.

The usually clinical Jota has just one goal in his last 11 appearances, whilst Nunez has just one goal in his last 13 outings. Perhaps even more surprisingly considering his incredible form at the start of the season, Diaz has just one goal in his last 18 appearances. Nowhere near good enough.

Photo: IMAGO

Due to this poor run of form, all three forwards could be able to leave the club this summer. Atletico Madrid have joined a number of Saudi clubs in the race to sign Nunez after Liverpool rejected a £70million bid for the Uruguayan forward back in January. The number nine is currently the favourite to depart this summer, with a move starting to look inevitable.

Alexander Isak

“Isak is the obvious choice, but Liverpool won’t be the only club in the race to sign him,” pointed out Johnson, “He’s a very good player in general and a top-class striker and anyone who provides his level of output in the Premier League will come at a huge cost.”

Photo: IMAGO

The Newcastle United forward is on track to break his own league goalscoring record of 21 goals, currently sitting on 19 Premier League goals. Isak has 23 goals and five assists to his name across all competitions.

Other Positions

As well as signing a striker, Liverpool are expected to explore the market for a new midfielder after failing to sign the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in recent windows.

You can also add a left-back and right-back to that list, with Trent Alexander-Arnold seemingly leaning towards a move to Real Madrid.

Worryingly, that is all needed even when assuming that both Van Dijk and Salah will both renew their contracts, which is far from guaranteed.

Despite the anxiety over the current contract situation, Johnson remains confident that Liverpool can get a lot of business done this summer, saying: “If Liverpool get over the line and win that Premier League title, then they’ll have plenty of options to strengthen the squad in the summer.”