Liverpool must make some major moves in the off-season transfer window for the sake of the club, and Jurgen Klopp’s future, writes Lavender Baj.
The 2022/23 Premier League season has concluded, which means that Liverpool can finally put a not-so-great season to bed and focus on forward-planning their campaign to get back into the Champions League in 2023/24.
After a record-breaking year of transfers, in which £1.9billion and £780m was respectively spent, the pressure is on for a number of big clubs to use this window to fix their disappointing seasons. And with huge names like Jude Bellingham, Lionel Messi, Roberto Firmino and Declan Rice all up for grabs, how clubs use the transfer window will undoubtedly have significant repercussions on their upcoming seasons.
The Premier League has confirmed that the summer transfer window will officially open on Wednesday, June 14 for domestic deals, with international deals permitted from July 1. The window will close on Friday, September 1.
Liverpool must make some major moves
While Liverpool’s season wasn’t as bad as the likes of Chelsea’s, it was far from the performance the Scousers have grown used to in recent years. And unlike Chelsea, who made major money moves in the last transfer window, Liverpool is yet to spend any significant coin trying to fix the current issues.
With a gaping hole in the midfield and now the departures of James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, this transfer window feels particularly pivotal for the Reds.
While the ship has all but certainly sailed for the Reds’ hopes of securing Jude Bellingham, there is no shortage of other players piquing the interest of Jurgen Klopp.
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Liverpool has an extensive wishlist heading into this transfer window; the likes of Mason Mount, Ryan Gravenberch and Mateo Kovacic, among countless others who have been rumoured to be in talks.
However, Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister is the most promising rumour so far, and is expected to be the first new arrival at Liverpool in the transfer window.
Other players linked to Liverpool and its hit list include Jurrien Timber (Ajax), Matheus Nunes (Wolves), Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) and Nicolo Barella (Inter).
If the Reds don’t manage to land Mac Allister or Mount at least, it could be another rough season ahead for Liverpool.
Why the 2023/24 season is so key for Jurgen Klopp
Since joining the Reds, Jurgen Klopp has had a great run. And there’s no doubt one less-than-satisfactory year can be forgiven.
While there seems to be no signs that Klopp will face the curse of the EPL manager sacking spree, which reached historic proportions last season, the club’s next 12 months will prove pivotal for the future of his career at the Reds, and the legacy he leaves behind.
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— The Anfield Talk (@TheAnfieldTalk) May 31, 2023
It will be a busy market for Liverpool. Jürgen Klopp really wants to rebuild the squad. [@FabrizioRomano] pic.twitter.com/gUWvykqRYP
If Klopp wants to be remembered as one of the great managers of LFC, it is paramount that whoever he signs in the off-season transfer window has what it takes to get Liverpool back into the Champions League next season.
Should Liverpool fail to make the Champions League once again next season, it will certainly leave a disappointing mark on Klopp’s legacy, and potentially rule out any chance of him re-signing another contract beyond 2025-26.