Liverpool fans are waiting for their summer transfer window to explode into life.
You can have the excuse of Euro 2024 and Copa America proving to be a distraction, but you feel they have to get a move on sooner rather than later.
The problem for Liverpool’s owners – Fenway Sports Group (FSG) – is that they are known to be methodical, risk-free and pretty safe in the transfer market.
That is proven by the fact that no significant names have been added to the squad, even though they have a new manager in the dugout.
There is huge pressure on Arne Slot’s shoulders because this is the highest level he has managed and he is replacing a legendary figure.
Jurgen Klopp could deal with working with a smaller squad than Liverpool’s rivals and the likes of Pep Guardiola getting who he wanted.
But one issue the now-departed German didn’t face was losing players he wanted to keep on Merseyside.
That’s now a possibility with several star players being tipped to make a transfer away from the club.
Phil Thompson expressed his worry at Liverpool possibly losing star centre-back and captain Virgil van Dijk this summer.
Van Dijk was slammed for ‘causing chaos’ at Euro 2024, with the Dutch getting knocked out by England at the semi-final stage.
Now that the 31-year-old is resting up, Thompson wasn’t happy with Jeff Stelling for trying to ‘get him out’ of Liverpool, as he told talkSPORT (16/07/24 at 9:30 am).
Virgil van Dijk’s Liverpool future
“Absolutely,” admitted Thompson about being worried about replacing van Dijk
“He had a fantastic season last year, the season before he had a big struggle, but he had been coming back from his injury. Last season, he embraced the captaincy, he enjoyed that responsibility and I think that made him a better player last year.
“I thought he did alright with the national team at the Euros. You (Jeff Stelling) do have a hang on Liverpool players. You are trying to get Virgil out of the door, for goodness sake. Virgil has done very, very well. I am hoping he will stay there. It’s the not knowing. He is a compatriot of Arne Slot, so hopefully that will help Virgil make up his mind.”
Arne Slot needs Virgil van Dijk
The new Liverpool boss can’t afford to lose such a key figure. The Reds were poor from a defensive aspect next season and suffered way too many injuries.
Liverpool worked hard to try and convince Leny Yoro to join, but now he has joined Manchester United and signed a contract until 2029.
The rising French star would have been perfect for Slot and Liverpool fans should be fuming at Manchester United getting Yoro.
READ MORE: 50 MOST LIKELY PREMIER LEAGUE, EFL AND EUROPEAN SUMMER 2024 FOOTBALL TRANSFERS
And van Dijk isn’t the only defender tipped to leave. Neil Ruddock was shocked to hear the transfer surrounding Trent Alexander-Arnold.
These players should be signing new contracts, not jetting off elsewhere, and if they do, then you do worry for Slot and how he manages to cope in his debut season.
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