Liverpool’s Transfer Plan ‘Makes Sense’ as £100m Premier League Duo Targetted | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Summer Focus: Dean Huijsen, Liam Delap and a Defensive Shake-Up

As the international break quietens the Anfield beat, Guy Drinkel filled the void on The Daily Red Podcast with a considered look at Liverpool’s potential summer moves—most notably Dean Huijsen and Liam Delap. While transfer chatter often spirals into speculation, Drinkel carefully filtered the noise, grounding his analysis in reliable sources and clear-headed realism.

Dean Huijsen Links Raise Logical Questions

Liverpool’s interest in Dean Huijsen of Bournemouth has sparked headlines thanks to his £50 million release clause. “That makes sense to me,” Drinkel stated plainly, examining the prospect of bringing in a 19-year-old Spanish international who “could easily be our third choice centre back” and develop into a long-term partner for Jarell Quansah or Ibrahima Konaté.

Referencing David Ornstein’s cautious report, Drinkel noted that Liverpool are “not sure if they’re pursuing him” and “would need to make more checks.” Still, the fit is undeniable. “We’ve got three centre backs for basically the remainder of the season at the minute and one of them is playing right back,” he pointed out, highlighting the squad’s thinness.

Questions about Huijsen’s aerial ability have emerged, with Drinkel citing Sam McGuire’s doubts. But he brushed aside those concerns, saying: “Aerial win rate’s not that good, but I mean it is kind of a dying art form… Saliba’s not great in the air.” In other words, Liverpool may prioritise intelligence and positioning over pure physical dominance.

At £50 million, Huijsen could be seen as a bargain. “We got Ibou for what, £35m, a good five years ago?” he asked. If Joe Gomez were to leave, Drinkel suggested that £30–40 million recouped could offset much of the outlay.

Photo: IMAGO

Liam Delap: Risk Worth Taking?

Alan Shearer’s recent tip linking Liverpool to Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap caught Drinkel’s attention too. “If he comes to Liverpool, you wouldn’t expect him to go straight in the starting 11,” he said, clarifying this wouldn’t be a replacement for Darwin Núñez but perhaps a developmental gamble.

Delap, with “10 goals in 28 Premier League matches,” has been the “main reason Ipswich are the best of the bad promoted teams,” Drinkel said. Yet his prior numbers weren’t sparkling: “Eight goals in 31 Championship games,” followed by “four in 37” the season before that. “He’s 22 now… maybe next year is the start of his prime,” he mused, suggesting Delap’s progression is encouraging but not yet explosive.

The big question is whether Delap would arrive as the striker or a striker. “If it was him and then another number nine… I’d be all right with the signing,” said Drinkel. But a solo signing in that role would feel underwhelming: “If he was the one number nine we bought to reignite that position… that would be concerning.”

Gomez Departure Opens Doors

While no formal announcement has been made, Drinkel seemed resigned to Joe Gomez’s potential exit: “We’ve been expecting Joe Gomez to leave for probably two or maybe three summers now.” The shift from being a versatile utility man under Klopp to a more limited role under Arne Slot makes a summer move plausible.

In that scenario, Huijsen appears the natural replacement—young, high ceiling, technically sound. “You’d presume we’d have to figure out versatility or backup in fullback positions anyway,” Drinkel added.

Room to Grow in Attack

Liam Delap would not be the final piece in Liverpool’s forward line, but he could be a sensible addition. “If we got Delap, it’d probably mean Jota would still be the starting number nine,” said Drinkel. That scenario leaves room for Liverpool to pursue a new left winger or allow Federico Chiesa greater responsibility. “If he’s happy at Liverpool and gets a full pre-season… give him a chance,” he added.