What players have Liverpool signed this summer? Where do they need to strengthen?

Arne Slot’s pre-season with Liverpool has come to an end. The Reds showed a good display during their three games played in the United States.

The Anfield club remained unbeaten across its three games. The tour started with a 1-0 victory over Real Betis in Pittsburgh, while wins against Arsenal in Philadelphia (2-1) and Manchester United in South Carolina (3-0) confirmed the good start for Slot’s new team.

However, the pre-season games are far from a reflection of what the team’s form during the season will be; they are a prelude to what can become. Liverpool’s expectations are once again very high, or rather, Jürgen Klopp left expectations high in a team where now only winning matters.

With the transfer deadline approaching (Friday, August 30) and the Premier League starting in less than two weeks, teams are now fine-tuning their squads for the season. However, fans have been left wondering if Liverpool, one of the “Big Six,” are going to make any significant signing during this summer transfer window.

Has Liverpool signed any player for the 2024/25 season?

Unfortunately for the Red fans, Liverpool hasn’t realized any signing as yet, raising some doubts about whether the team is competitive enough to face all the competitions across the season. However, this doesn’t mean that there are no new faces.

Some young talents returned from their loans, as in the case of Fabio Carvalho, the 21-year-old Portuguese starlet who returned from Hull City and scored against both Arsenal and United. Dutch center-back Sepp van den Berg is another player who returned from loan (Mainz 05) and had a good display during the pre-season tour. The 22-year-old center-back has impressed Liverpool, but he is still considered a fourth-option in that position, and a good offer could mean his departure from the club.

Has Liverpool sold any players?

Just as Liverpool’s transfer market has not significantly moved regarding the signings, something similar has happened with the departures. Maybe the team’s most important has been Joel Matip’s since the 32-year-old defender played eight seasons with the Reds and was crucial in their UEFA Champions League title path in 2019. But he was sliding down the pecking order so hardly a major loss.

The Spaniard Thiago Alcantara retired after last season. Unfortunately, we could not see him fully shine with Liverpool – although he had his class moments – because of all the injuries the player suffered during his three seasons with the club. Other players who have left the club are goalkeeper Adrián (to Real Betis) and right-back Calvin Ramsay (on loan in Wigan). His Anfield future is ahead of him.

Where does Liverpool need to strengthen?

With Matip’s departure, Liverpool must strengthen its defense. With Konaté and Quansah as the main options to accompany Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gómez open to leaving the club, Slot has to look for a substitute center-back.

However, the Reds also need proper reinforcement in defensive midfield. Everything indicates that Wataru Endo will continue for another season despite rumors of the Japanese star leaving for Marseille. Although the 31-year-old performed really well last season, the club needs a holding midfielder to assume the role in the starting XI or alternate the position with Endo as they have no nailed on other option in that position, although the return of Stefan Bajcetic could be the perfect answer, depending on how the manager sees it. Mac Allister would have to assume that role if the Japanese get injured, sacrificing Liverpool’s creativity in attack.

Also, Slot could consider a signing in the attack. During the second half of the last season, Liverpool struggled to find goals in crucial moments, which saw them lose the Premier League’s title race. Although the team has big names such as Salah, Díaz, Núñez, Gakpo, and Jota, a new face in attack could help the team sharpen its ratio. That would likely see one of those names leave, and maybe Slot thinks he can challenge on all fronts with what he’s got. It’s certainly a squad that impresses in all departments.