Liverpool should be looking at Lloyd Kelly to solve defensive issues: Reds’ 2024 summer transfer window likely ins and outs

The Reds revitalised their squad last year, but new manager Arne Slot will doubtless want to strengthen in a few key areas

So, the Jurgen Klopp era is over at Anfield – and a new one is about to begin. Arne Slot will officially take up his new role as Liverpool head coach on June 1, and he’ll be inheriting a squad that his predecessor has left in fine fettle.

The Reds may have run out of steam during the tail end of the 2023-24 campaign, but it was a season of real progress, with Klopp winning the Carabao Cup with kids before leading Liverpool back into the Champions League – and all of this after overhauling his midfield last summer.

So, what can we expect from the Merseysiders during the upcoming window? They’ve not only got a new coach, ‘laptop guru’ Michael Edwards is back involved, this time as Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of football, while Richard Hughes is on his way from Bournemouth to take over as sporting director.

All three will be looking to stamp their mark on Liverpool’s squad, and while FSG are famed for their prudence, it is believed that there could be as much as £200m (including salaries and agent fees) to spend this summer. Below, GOAL explains where the money might go…

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Problem positions

• Liverpool were widely expected to sign a centre-back last summer, but decided against doing so. They got away with it – but only to a degree. The emergence of Jarell Quansah as a first-team regular came as a most welcome surprise, but Ibrahima Konate’s failure to adequately fill in for Joel Matip, whose Anfield career was brought to a premature end by injury in December, was a massive disappointment and cast serious doubt on the Frenchman’s long-term future at Anfield. Joe Gomez can obviously fill in just about anywhere in defence (and even in midfield!), but it’s clear that Liverpool need another top centre-back to challenge for a starting spot alongside captain Virgil van Dijk.
• In midfield, Wataru Endo proved a bargain buy, Alexis Mac Allister makes for a good pretty defensive midfielder, as we discovered this season, while Stefan Bajcetic is finally fit again – but it would be a surprise if Slot did not ask for a specialist No.6 to play in his preferred double pivot.
• Up front, Liverpool are really well stocked and it now seems that Mohamed Salah has his heart set on staying at Anfield. Cody Gakpo’s late-season resurgence also bodes well, given he is versatile and should enjoy playing under fellow Dutchman Slot. However, there are varying degrees of doubt over Diogo Jota (incessant injury issues), Luis Diaz (transfer talk) and Darwin Nunez (erratic finishing – and behaviour!). Might Slot be tempted to sign a reliable goal-scorer?…
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Rumour mill

• It was known long before Klopp let the cat out of the bag that Slot was on his way to Anfield, so a number of his former charges have been tipped to join Liverpool in the past few months.
• The names of Mats Wieffer and Quinten Timber have been bandied about as they were key components of Slot’s midfield at Feyenoord, but Teun Koopmeiners seems the more likely arrival. Not only did the versatile Dutchman play under Slot at AZ, he’s long been a Liverpool target. The problem is that several clubs, including Juventus, are keen to sign Atalanta’s all-action midfielder, but the word is that Koopmeiners is keen on a move to Merseyside.
• Given their defensive deficiencies, it would not be a surprise to see Liverpool go for Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida, who can play at centre-back, right-back and in midfield, but there have also long been links with the likes of Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting CP) and Willian Pacho (Eintracht Frankfurt), while Lille teenager Leny Yoro is now said to be of interest.
• There has also been talk of a move for Orkun Kokcu, who spent two seasons playing under Slot at De Kuip. The Turkey midfielder only joined Benfica last summer, though, and Liverpool know how the Portuguese love to drive a hard bargain.
• Elsewhere, speculation is rife that Slot has already given his backing to a bid for Johan Bakayoko, the 21-year-old Belgium winger who starred for PSV during this season’s Eredivisie title triumph, while Porto midfielder Alan Varela, Leeds United youngster Archie Gray and Newcastle attacker Anthony Gordon have all been touted as potential targets.
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Ideal signing

• When it comes to dream deals, Lloyd Kelly isn’t exactly Kylian Mbappe or Jude Bellingham – but bear with us here! Signing superstars is great, but this is Anfield, so we have to be realistic – and the Bournemouth defender is not only available and attainable, he’s also a potential problem-solver for Liverpool.
• Obviously, there’s an issue in the middle of the park that hasn’t gone away, but FSG just aren’t going to win a bidding war for the best man to fill the void, Bruno Guimaraes, who is wanted by Manchester City and Arsenal among others, so Newcastle aren’t going to let him go cheaply. We could be looking at a nine-figure fee for the Brazilian.
• It’s a similar story with Mohammed Kudus. The Ghanaian looks absolutely made to play for Liverpool, because of his mix of skill and industry, but he only joined West Ham last year – and for £38m ($48m). Kudus would fetch more than twice that figure now. In addition, with Salah saying, the Reds undeniably have less need for another attacking player than they do a centre-back, which brings us back to Kelly.
• Several sides are pursuing the 25-year-old because his contract expires this summer, but Liverpool might have the edge given the role Hughes played in bringing him to Bournemouth. This is not a deal that would set the pulses racing, but picking up the versatile left-footed central defender that Liverpool have long needed on a free transfer would allow Edwards & Co. to put the money saved in terms of a transfer fee towards other, more expensive signings. It really would be a win-win.
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Heading for the exits

• Liverpool have already bid farewell to Matip and Thiago Alcantara, both of whom saw their contracts expire while still sidelined by injury. Despite ongoing talk of another big-money bid from a Saudi Pro League (SPL) club, Salah has already said that he is determined to do “everything possible” to deliver more trophies to Anfield next season, while Nunez also appears likely to stay despite recently deleting every picture of him in a Liverpool shirt from his Instagram account – bar his profile pic.
• However, third-choice goalkeeper Adrian has already confirmed he’s moving on, and it would be a big surprise if Caoimhin Kelleher does not depart, too. The Irishman proved once again this season that he’s just too good to remain Alisson’s understudy. At 25, it’s time for him to secure regular football elsewhere and the advantage for Liverpool is that they could get decent money for “the best No.2 in the world”.
• Elsewhere, there are rumours that reserve left-back Kostas Tsimikas could leave despite only signing a new contract last September, given Andy Robertson isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, while Nat Phillips has just one year left on his deal, meaning his exit is inevitable.
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Loan watch

• It’s hard to envisage any senior player going out on loan unless a new signing is likely to severely restrict their game time next season, but a couple of Klopp’s kids could benefit from first-team football elsewhere.
• For example, if Ben Doak is going to be restricted to only the odd substitute appearance here and there, it would make sense to send him to a Championship club offering regular minutes. The hugely promising Scottish winger just needs to play after seeing his 2023-24 campaign decimated by injuries.
• If Liverpool do strengthen further in midfield, we could also see Carabao Cup final heroes Bobby Clark and James McConnell sent out on loan. The same goes for Kaide Gordon, who probably hasn’t progressed as much as many expected, and exciting striking duo Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns, who both scored their first Liverpool goals this season. They’re all considered top talents with big futures at Anfield, but a loan move could really aid their development.
• A big decision will have to be made on Fabio Carvalho, who spent the first half of last season at RB Leipzig before finding his feet again at Hull City, where Tyler Morton also excelled. Both could push for permanent transfers if there’s no indication that they’re part of Slot’s long-term plans.
• Sepp van den Berg is being tipped to move to Germany on a permanent basis after a successful loan spell at Mainz, while Owen Beck might spend another season at Dundee, given how well the left-back performed in Scotland. It remains to be seen where Calvin Ramsay ends up, though. If Tsimikas does depart, perhaps the Scot will serve as Robertson’s understudy under Slot.
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How Liverpool will line up in 2024-25

• Obviously, much depends on Slot’s assessment of the current options at his disposal and subsequent summer signings. But the expectation is that he will implement his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, which could see Alexander-Arnold moved into midfield (particularly if Geertruida follows Slot from Feyenoord).
• There, the England international could be paired with either Mac Allister or Koopmeiners (if the latter arrives from Atalanta) – two players that could just as easily play in front of the back four or behind the central striker. Indeed, what stands out about Liverpool’s squad is it is made up of players capable of fulfilling several roles (Dominik Szoboszlai is another option at No.10), meaning the team should have real fluidity no matter who is selected.
• Alexander-Arnold could drop back to cover Geertruida if he goes forward; Kelly could do Robertson the same favour on the opposite flank. Mac Allister and Koopmeiners could alternate in midfield, as could Gakpo and Nunez or Diaz and Jota in attack. There are just so many permutations, and so many possibilities, which should make Slot’s Liverpool unpredictable and utterly compelling next season.
• Liverpool 2024-25 (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Geertruida, Van Dijk, Kelly, Robertson; Alexander-Arnold, Mac Allister; Salah, Koopmeiners, Diaz; Nunez.