Virgil van Dijk expecting ‘big summer’ at Liverpool but who could they sign?

Apr 29, 2025 2 min read
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is considering what reinforcements his Premier League winners will need in the summer (Peter
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is considering what reinforcements his Premier League winners will need in the summer (Peter Byrne/PA)

Arne Slot won the Premier League title without making a major signing having inherited a top-quality squad from Jurgen Klopp.

The Dutchman has been coy about his summer plans but captain Virgil van Dijk said, after signing his new two-year contract, he understood a “big summer” was planned.

Slot, whose appointment was partly based on his reputation for improving players, said earlier this month: “It would be strange for me to say now I am not happy with the team. We didn’t change anything and I don’t think we went downwards.”

Here the PA news agency looks at where he might need to strengthen.

Goalkeeper

Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili points and shouts
Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to arrive in the summer (Nick Potts/PA)

Alisson Becker is the established number one but with Valencia’s 24-year-old Georgia international Giorgi Mamardashvili arriving in July it is an area they are strong in and is likely to mean the departure of Caoimhin Kelleher, who kept four clean sheets in his 10 league appearances this season.

Defence

Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong reacts
Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong has been linked with Liverpool (Peter Byrne/PA)

The out-of-contract Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future still appears to lie with Real Madrid and although 21-year-old Conor Bradley has been an able deputy a more senior option may be needed. Central defence requires attention with another serious injury for Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah still relatively inexperienced. Neither left-back Andy Robertson or Kostas Tsimikas have had good seasons and the latter seems most likely to leave.

Linked with: Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth), Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth).

Midfield

Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi
Liverpool had a deal agreed for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi last summer before he backtracked (Nick Potts/PA)

Klopp’s final revamp saw an overhaul of midfield so only minor attention is required. Ryan Gravenberch has excelled in a new number six role but he needs support. Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi was targeted last summer but a return seems unlikely at this stage,

Linked with: Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad).

Attack

Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak celebrates scoring
Newcastle’s Alexander Isak may prove too costly for Liverpool (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Darwin Nunez clearly does not fit with Slot’s style and seems destined for the exit and while Diogo Jota is the preferred number nine his continuing injury problems make looking for a replacement sensible.

Linked with: Alexander Isak (Newcastle), Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig).

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