Football is difficult to predict at the best of times. Who would have imagined, less than 12 months after Brighton and Hove Albion came within touching distance of securing Darwin Nunez’ signature, that very same player would be on his way to Liverpool for what could be a club-record fee of £85 million?
To put it simply, things change quickly in this most unpredictable of games.
One thing you can bet your bottom dollar on, however, is that Liverpool will still be fighting for football’s biggest prizes three of years from now. The 2022 Premier League runners’ up have not just constructed one of the most talented squads in world football, they have also laid the foundations for an extended period of bright red brilliance not seen since the trophy-laden glory days of the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones and Ibrahima Konate should be in their prime three years’ from now. Andy Robertson, meanwhile, has plenty of years left at the top level. The same goes for Fabinho while Harvey Elliot, if he maintains his current rate of progress, could develop at Anfield in a similar vein to Phil Foden at Manchester City, for instance.
Who will Liverpool need to move on from?
On the other hand, however, there are certainly a couple of players heading down the hill, autumn leaves crinkling underfoot. Captain marvel Jordan Henderson will be 34 in three years’ time, as will the injury-prone Thiago Alcantara. Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino are also on the wrong side of 30, while James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are highly unlikely to still be Liverpool players in 2025.
At least, in the effervescent Luis Diaz, Liverpool have already found a readymade successor for the wantaway Sadio Mane. Senegal’s all-time record goalscorer wants to go and go now, with Bayern Munich keen. Mo Salah’s departure can wait, in contrast, but the signs certainly seem to point at a parting of the ways over the next 12 months or so. Salah will be a free-agent in the summer of 2023.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Liverpool’s arch nemesis, was the undisputed master when it came to tearing down one dynasty and building a new kingdom out of the rubble. Klopp and co are on the right track as they look to do the same, with the signings of Diaz, Nunez, Jota, Konate, Fabio Carvalho and even Elliot a statement of intent. Calvin Ramsay should also arrive from Aberdeen, though ousting Alexander-Arnold would be a feat up there with scaling Mount Everest in a dressing gown and slippers.
Jude Bellingham on his way?
The Times claim that Liverpool will prioritise midfield reinforcements next summer. And Jude Bellingham is all-but certain to be right at the top of their wishlist. Klopp’s remarkable reputation when it comes to turning promising youngsters into world-leading superstars should be more than enough to lure the former Birmingham City wonderkid back to England. The manager’s excellent relationship with the Dortmund hierarchy will do Liverpool’s chances no harm either.
It is not certain at this stage how serious the club are about Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt, however, but the former Ajax captain could only benefit by learning from – before potentially succeeding – compatriot Van Dijk. According to Calciomercato, De Ligt is reluctant to extend his contract on the terms Juve are currently offering. He would reportedly jump at the opportunity to join Liverpool, if the Merseyside giants are willing to pay him £100,000-a-week.
Replacing the irreplaceable?
And with Salah’s future uncertain, Liverpool continue to be linked with a number of left-footed right-wingers. Ajax’s card-shuffling magician Antony is one, UOL claiming that Liverpool have made a ‘concrete proposal’. Bukayo Saka is another while the agent of Leeds forward Raphinha confirmed Liverpool’s interest a couple of months ago (Globo). Antony is probably the most attainable of the three.
Arsenal will move heaven and earth to stop their homegrown hero joining a Premier League rival, after all. Raphinha, meanwhile, appears to be holding out for Barcelona.
Then again, perhaps Liverpool could look a little closer to home. In Kaide Gordon, one of the most exciting teenage forwards in English football is honing his considerable talents on Merseyside. The mature, technically-gifted Tyler Morton could also follow in Alexander-Arnold’s footsteps, having played nine first-team games in 2021/22.
Morton’s positional awareness and passing range may make him a leading candidate to take Henderson’s place. And keep an eye on Marcelo Pitaluga too. A 19-year-old goalkeeper of such vast ability, Pitaluga has reportedly been lined up as Alisson’s long-term successor, though 2024 could come too soon for him.
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