Liverpool face tricky homegrown dilemma this summer | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Homegrown Conundrum: Slot’s Balancing Act Ahead of 2025-26

As Liverpool edge deeper into a squad evolution this summer under Arne Slot, one of the less glamorous but increasingly urgent topics is creeping into sharp focus. No, it is not about tactics or marquee transfers, but rather a fundamental pillar of squad building in the Premier League: the homegrown quota.

Frimpong, Futures and a Familiar Problem

Jeremie Frimpong’s arrival was celebrated for the obvious reasons — pace, tenacity, positional flexibility — but what really sweetened the deal was something less flashy: he counts as a homegrown player. Despite being a Netherlands international, his formative years at Manchester City tick the Premier League’s criteria. In a summer where Liverpool have already lost three key homegrown names, that status has taken on real significance.

Photo: IMAGO

The rules are strict. Of the 25 players each club can register, no more than 17 may be classified as non-homegrown. The rest must either have spent at least three years with an English or Welsh FA-affiliated club before their 21st birthday or remain eligible for the under-21 exemption.

Last season, Liverpool only named 22 players, seven of whom were homegrown. Now, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher and Tom Hill all departed — and Vitezslav Jaros expected to go out on loan — the safety net is fraying. That leaves Curtis Jones and the soon-to-age-out trio of Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah and Harvey Elliott. Even they are not guaranteed to stay. Elliott admitted recently he is wary of “wasting years of my career” on the bench. Bayer Leverkusen have taken a keen interest in Quansah.

Youth Promotions and Creative Thinking

Liverpool are not without options. The academy remains a fertile ground and players like Trey Nyoni, James McConnell, Jayden Danns and Lewis Koumas could be brought into the fold without taking up a formal squad place. However, many of these players are also candidates for loan moves to aid their development.

The trouble lies less in numbers than in balance. Slot prefers a tight group, each position doubled up with youth as backup, but the challenge now is fitting the jigsaw together without compromising depth or experience.

Non-Homegrown Numbers Near the Limit

Liverpool’s list of non-homegrown talent is already substantial. The 15 from last season included first-team regulars like Alisson, Van Dijk, Salah and Gakpo. Add in potential new signings Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez, and the figure rises to 18 — one above the threshold. That means tough decisions are looming.

Players such as Kostas Tsimikas, Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa could find themselves vulnerable. Chiesa and Nunez offer attacking value, but in a numbers game like this, versatility and availability can sometimes weigh heavier than flair. Slot may be forced into a strategic sacrifice.

Who Makes the Cut?

As it stands, only Bradley, Jones and Frimpong can be considered secure homegrown picks.  Quansah and Elliott offer solutions, but uncertainty clouds their futures. If Liverpool are to integrate Wirtz and Kerkez, plus account for a new goalkeeper with Giorgi Mamardashvili replacing Kelleher — then a third-choice homegrown keeper like Harvey Davies becomes essential.

This is not a crisis, but it is a delicate puzzle. For Liverpool to stay compliant, competitive and cohesive, they must solve it with precision. Every signing, sale and squad place counts — not just in quality, but in classification.