Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been busy in the summer transfer window so far, but further dealings could be on the cards which could complete the team.
Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri, Alisson and Naby Keita have all arrived at Anfield this summer which has greatly increased the options at Klopp’s disposal for the upcoming season, however, some shrewd extra changes could bring perfect harmony to the squad.
MORE: Xherdan Shaqiri giving Jurgen Klopp a headache at Liverpool
Here is a quick look at three potential players that could still be on the Red’s radar and four that may still be offloaded before the transfer window closes on August 9th…
IN – Ousmane Dembele
First on the list is Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele, who has returned to the club this summer as a World Cup winner after starring for France in Russia.
According to Don Balon, Liverpool has already opened talks with Camp Nou officials about the possibility of signing the 21-year-old, who has endured a mixed start to life in Spain and could be knocked further down the pecking order at the club after the arrival of the Brazilian midfielder Malcolm.
The Reds have one of the best forward line-ups in Europe already but Dembele would undoubtedly take that to a whole new level if he can revive his career and show the kind of form that made him such a sought-after talent at Borussia Dortmund.
However, Don Balon note that he’d cost around £89million to let go, which makes this one heck of an ambitious deal to pull off this late in the summer, though remember Barcelona have an extra few weeks to reinvest that in a replacement – if new signing Malcom isn’t one already.
OUT – Simon Mignolet
The Belgian goalkeeper has been at Anfield since 2013 and started out as the club’s number 1 during his first few years on Merseyside. However, in recent times he has fallen way down the pecking order, most recently losing his place in the team to Loris Karius.
Alisson’s record transfer from Roma this summer practically spells the end for Mignolet’s time at Liverpool and after 155 appearances for the club and at the age of 30, now would be a good time to leave in search of regular action.
Barcelona has been among the reportedly interested parties but according to the Daily Express, the club has received no formal offers as of yet, with just 6 days left until the window shuts until January.
IN – Lucas Paqueta
This 20-year-old midfield star is currently plying his trade in his homeland in Brazil with Flamengo and has been tipped for a bright future with the national team after already featuring several times for the U-20’s.
Earlier in the window, Liverpool failed to bring Lyon’s Nabil Fekir to the club, as reported by The Express and they may now look to Paqueta as a suitable alternative for the Frenchman, possibly for around £40m, according to TeamTalk.
The Brazilian is an exciting young attacking midfielder who would add extra depth to Klopp’s offensive ranks and surely only improve in the coming years.
OUT – Daniel Sturridge
Sturridge joined Liverpool from Chelsea in 2013 and despite making a promising start to life at Anfield as Liverpool came close to the 2014 Premier League title, has since struggled to maintain form and fitness.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at West Bromwich Albion where he once again failed to feature regularly due to injury and with Jurgen Klopp’s side already full of attacking talent it could be time for him to move on permanently.
That being said the England international is still the club’s only traditional centre-forward and according to The Express, the German boss may yet include him his plans for the upcoming Premier League season.
IN – Domagoj Vida
The 29-year-old Croatian defender enjoyed the summer of his life at The World Cup in Russia this summer as he helped his country reach the final against France.
They ultimately lost 4-2 in the showpiece event but Vida’s performances throughout the tournament have seen his stock skyrocket and he could yet be set for a move to the Premier League with Liverpool.
The Daily Express reports that The Reds have made an offer for the Besiktas defender and if a deal can be agreed in the coming days he would join up with fellow countryman Dejan Lovren at Anfield, while the Sun cite sources in Turkey suggesting he’ll likely cost £22m.
Lovren is seen by many to be the weak link at the back for Liverpool and Vida certainly overshadowed him at The World Cup with his displays, so he could end up replacing his teammate in Klopp’s starting XI and finally give the team a top centre-back pairing alongside January signing Virgil van Dijk. With Alisson already brought in behind them, this leaky LFC back-line would finally be transformed into something up there with the finest in Europe.
Out – Divock Origi
Origi joined Liverpool back in 2014 and has gone on to make just 51 appearances in 4 years at the club, never managing to fully establish himself in the starting XI. He’s only contributed 12 goals too, which isn’t great for a striker playing at one of England’s biggest clubs and it may be best for both parties if he were to leave this summer.
According to The Daily Mirror, he could be on the verge of a move to Turkey with Fenerbahce, if the club meets Liverpool’s asking price of £26m, which would see the Reds making a tidy profit of over £10m on the 23-year-old Belgian.
OUT – Lazar Markovic
The Serbian midfielder has been at Anfield for four years but has endured a torrid time at the club since Jurgen Klopp’s arrival as manager. Overall he has made just 34 first team appearances and now he may finally be ready to move on in search of regular football.
According to The Sun, Greek outfit Olympiakos are in talks with Liverpool representatives over a move for Markovic, which would represent good business for both clubs. Olympiakos would be gaining an experienced and creative midfielder, whilst the Reds would be successfully clearing out some dead weight and reducing their wage bill slightly after bringing in a few new faces this summer.
If Liverpool can raise funds by clearing out this deadwood and spend wisely on the three quality signings mentioned above, they have to be taken very seriously as both Premier League title contenders and Champions League contenders again in 2018/19.