Liverpool plot 2026 triple swoop with confirmed targets already in talks | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Triple-Target 2026 Plan Could Define Next Era

Next Phase of Slot’s Revolution

Liverpool are already preparing for 2026 with a transfer strategy that feels as bold as their title-winning football. Rousing The Kop report that the club will focus on three key areas in the next stage of Arne Slot’s revolution, a top-class defensive midfielder, a successor to Mohamed Salah and a long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk.

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This is a continuation of the club’s ambitious rebuild that saw £440m spent in one historic summer window. The sheer churn of 19 senior players coming and going would have shaken most clubs, yet Liverpool are thriving. They are not content to bask in the glow of being Premier League champions. Instead, they are laying down foundations for sustained dominance.

“In my opinion, Liverpool are going to want another CDM next year, a top-class one,” transfer journalist Graeme Bailey told Rousing The Kop. He named Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba as leading candidates. Wharton in particular has been described as “unflappable” and is already being tipped for a long England career.

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Midfield Reinforcements Top Priority

Liverpool’s midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai might be the envy of Europe, but the depth behind them could use reinforcement. Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo offer reliability but lack the elite defensive presence of a Rodri-style controller.

Bailey added, “Angelo Stiller would do that role, but I do personally wonder whether Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton would be higher up in the pecking order; obviously, they would come with significantly higher price tags. It wouldn’t surprise me if we see Liverpool getting involved in those conversations a bit more.”

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The midfield market will be competitive. Manchester United remain keen on Baleba as part of their long-term rebuild under Ruben Amorim. “But the concern is that Liverpool’s admiration could turn into something more concrete,” said journalist Dean Jones, noting that no club wants to go head-to-head with Liverpool on or off the pitch right now.

Future Successors to Salah and Van Dijk

Both Salah and Van Dijk signed two-year extensions until 2027, but their advancing ages mean succession planning cannot be delayed. Liverpool’s admiration for Marc Guehi is long-standing, and a deal to bring him in from Crystal Palace could be finalised as early as January. This would give him time to bed in before Van Dijk eventually hands over the armband.

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On the attacking flank, Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise is the standout name. Once of Crystal Palace, he has blossomed into one of Europe’s elite wide creators. His numbers last season rivalled Salah’s and have sparked debate over whether Liverpool should sanction a potential British-record fee.

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Real Madrid Threat and Transfer Psychology

Rousing The Kop also cite reports of Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso targeting both Gravenberch and Mac Allister in 2026, a situation Liverpool will watch carefully. Dean Jones called the interest in Mac Allister “genuine” but suggested the Argentine is unlikely to depart soon, given his commitment to the project at Anfield.

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There are other moving parts too. Reports in Spain claim Luis Suarez is working behind the scenes to persuade a Barcelona star to move to Liverpool. And a journalist has claimed that an “absolute tank” of a player has made Liverpool his first-choice destination, further fuelling expectations of another blockbuster window.

What is striking about this planning is its scale. This is not a club thinking in six-month cycles, but one mapping out how to stay relevant in a league that is evolving faster than ever.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

This is the sort of news that gets the blood pumping. Planning for 2026 while sitting as champions shows that this club is no longer reactive but proactive. We are not simply waiting for players to run out of contract or decline before seeking replacements, we are positioning ourselves to dominate for the next five years.

The idea of Adam Wharton or Carlos Baleba anchoring our midfield is mouthwatering. Wharton in particular feels like the perfect addition, composed on the ball, defensively sharp and young enough to grow into the role. The thought of him playing behind Mac Allister and Szoboszlai is exciting.

And then there is the succession for Salah and Van Dijk. Signing Guehi early would be a masterstroke, allowing him to integrate alongside Van Dijk rather than replacing him cold. As for Olise, there may be debate about the price tag but he looks like the one player capable of offering the same creativity and goals from the right flank.

Supporters will be watching closely, because if these moves come off, we might be looking at a Liverpool team capable of building a dynasty, not just a cycle.