After a frantic 2023/24 transfer window that saw Liverpool miss out on major targets like Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia who both joined Premier League rivals Chelsea, Liverpool supporters headed into the 2024/25 summer transfer window with optimism as they hoped the club would do better with new signings.
The major question surrounded how they would transition from Jurgen Klopp’s high-press football to new head coach Arne Slot’s style. Under new management, Liverpool tickets are expected to see a surge in demand, with many eager to see how the new Dutch coach will fare.
Recall that earlier in the 2023/24 season, Klopp announced he would leave the club at the end of his contract, signaling an end to a reign that made Liverpool a stronghold once again in Europe.
Slot joined from Dutch outfit Feyenoord after number one target Xabi Alonso decided to remain at German side Bayer Leverkusen. Question marks also surrounded the future of some key players with the likes of Mohammed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold entering the final year of their contracts.
The defensive midfield was also an area to be prioritized as Endo Wataru was signed only for a short-term fix and a permanent solution was required.
Unfortunately for the Reds, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who was a top target, favored staying in Spain rather than moving to the Reds. Liverpool was very quiet in the transfer window, unlike their rivals with only two deals agreed for player incomings. They spent just £36 million and raised £40 million in player sales.
Key incomings
Giorgi Mamardashvili: The 23-year-old Georgia goalkeeper was signed from Valencia for an initial £25 million and £4 million in add-ons but he was loaned back to Valencia for the rest of the season. He will join his new teammates in the summer of 2025. Mamardashvili impressed for Georgia at the recently concluded Euro 2024, making eye-catching saves in the 2-0 win over Portugal. He also made a tournament-high 21 saves in three group-stage games. He will join the Reds next summer looking to compete for the number one goalkeeping spot alongside Brazilian Alisson Becker and Caoimhin Kelleher.
Federico Chiesa: The Italian winger was signed from Juventus for an initial fee of £10 million and £2.5 million in add-ons. After suffering an Anterior cruciate ligament Injury in 2022 which kept him out of action for about ten months, Chiesa struggled with game time and other injuries which kept him out for several other matches.
His injury struggles affected his transfer value as this low fee paid by Liverpool for his services was considered to be a steal for a player of his quality. Chiesa is comfortable on both wings and at 26 years of age, he looks like someone who could be a reliable backup for talisman Mohammed Salah. His pace, trickery, and experience would be very essential especially when he’s fit and available to play.
Key Outgoings
Joel Matip: The Cameroon defender left Anfield at the end of his contract after eight years in which he won several trophies including the UEFA Champions League, the English Premier League, the FA cup, and the Carabao Cup.
His partnership at the back alongside Dutch captain Virgil Van Dijk brought stability for years. After 301 appearances for the Reds, he heads out as a legend for another chapter in his career.
Thiago Alcantara: The former Spain and Bayern Munich defender left Liverpool after four years at Anfield. His time at the Reds was marred with several injuries which made it difficult to showcase his talents.
When fit, Thiago Alcantara was one of the best midfielders of his time and he left after winning several trophies.
Fabio Carvalho: Carvalho joined Liverpool from Fulham in 2022 but found playing time limited due to competition in the midfield. The attacking midfielder spent the second part of last season on loan at English Championship side Hull City and impressed. He was sold to Brentford for an initial £22.5 million and an additional £5 million in add-ons. The sale also included a 17.5 percent sell-on clause, which represents a massive gain for the Reds. The attacking midfielder is highly rated and will be hoping to show the Reds what they will miss as he will look to impress at his new club.
Sepp Van den Berg: he was the second Liverpool player to join Brentford this summer. The defender joined for a transfer fee of about £20 million. The 22-year-old defender joined Liverpool in 2019 from Dutch side PEC Zwolle, but he failed to stake a place in the team as he fell down the pecking order that included the likes of Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez. The Dutchman made just four senior appearances for the Reds. His time at Anfield included loans at several clubs including German sides Schalke 04 and Mainz.
Stefan Bajcetic: The 19-year-old midfielder who made three appearances joined Austrian champions Salzburg on loan till the end of the season. He favored a move to the Austrian side over Spanish giants Barcelona.
Other notable outgoings are goalkeeper Adrian, who left at the end of his contract to join Real Betis, Calvin Ramsay who joined English lower league side Wigan on loan, defender Nat Philips who joined Derby County on loan, and young forward Ben Doak who moved to Middlesbrough on a season-long loan deal.
The transfer window was a relatively quiet one for Liverpool as they made just two signings with only Chiesa joining this summer. The transition from the Jurgen Klopp era to the Arne Slot era has started well so far into the season with three wins from the first three games including a comprehensive 3-0 win over Manchester United. The revelation of the season so far has been Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch who has impressed in the number 6 role erasing doubts about the lack of action in the window.
However, the season just started and injuries would eventually kick in. If their best three midfielders sustain injuries, they could struggle due to their inability to secure quality players in that position.
