Liverpool Must Prioritize Key Contracts and January Transfers in 2025 – Opinion | OneFootball

New Contracts and New Signings are Vital for 2025

As Liverpool moves into the second half of the 2024/25 season, it’s astonishing to reflect on how successful the first half has been. With the team sitting at the top of the table in both the Premier League and Champions League, the early period of Arne Slot’s tenure as Anfield’s head coach has exceeded expectations. It has quelled any anticipations from pundits and rival fans that a change in leadership would lead to a decline in form and success.

The summer transfer window saw the Reds fail in their attempts to secure a defensive midfielder or left-back for their rejuvenated squad. Consequently, the new Sporting Director, Richard Hughes, faced criticism for not attracting the new talents often demanded by English fans. The ongoing contract situations with key players such as captain Virgil van Dijk, superstar Mohamed Salah, and vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold have only amplified the discord that arose during the previous months. Thankfully, the team’s impressive performances on the pitch have soothed some of those concerns.

With the January transfer window on the horizon and the clock ticking down for these three players, who can now openly discuss moves with other clubs, it’s clear that the coming weeks will be crucial for the short-term success of the Merseyside giants.

What Are the Priorities for Liverpool Executives?

When Fenway Sports Group (FSG) decided to hire Michael Edwards as the new Sporting CEO, it came as a surprise that sparked hope during a time when the six-time European champions were at risk of losing their esteemed German manager, Jürgen Klopp. The restructuring of the board and adjustments in the recruitment department aimed to facilitate smart coordination to mitigate the loss of a coaching legend. However, the immediate need to find Klopp’s successor and revamp the coaching staff restricted the time available to scout and sign new players. As a result, only the opportunistic signing of Italian forward Federico Chiesa occurred.

As the festive season draws to a close, the New Year ushers in uncertainty and apprehension among fans, who are increasingly worried about whether the necessary contracts and recruitment will be finalized in January.

What Is Likely To Happen?

I remain optimistic that negotiations for all three players’ contracts will be concluded soon, as the implications of failure would likely lead to further anxiety among Liverpool supporters. At a time when the 19-time English league champions are excelling in every competition, the desire to build from a position of strength presents an opportunity that cannot be overlooked. The increased salaries for these three standout players can be managed through shrewd sales, so unless their demands become unreasonable, I struggle to foresee any scenario in which world-class players would want to leave the best-performing team in Europe.

In terms of new signings, it is evident that Liverpool requires a specialist defensive midfielder, despite the remarkable resurgence of Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch. Several players have been under consideration since the summer, which should lead to at least one winter signing to strengthen Arne Slot’s squad. While the team also needs to find an elite-level left-back, this may need to wait until the summer if a reliable defensive midfielder can be secured first. The current good fortune of minimal injuries in central midfield cannot be relied upon for the second half of the season. Thus, alongside the three contract renewals, I expect the club to target a player like Carlos Baleba next month, who could help drive this celebrated club toward ultimate success.