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It’s not been the most memorable of seasons for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool this term, with the Reds in danger of only winning one trophy this season, which came at the start of this year’s campaign in the FA Community Shield. Injuries have caused havoc in the first-team squad, and it’ll be an interesting summer transfer window ahead, as Klopp looks to strengthen his squad ahead of a title push next year.
We’ll take a look at five players who Liverpool should be looking at ahead of the summer transfer window.
Jude Bellingham
Bellingham is one of the most in-demand players in world football as we head towards the summer transfer window. The England international has gone from strength to strength since moving from Birmingham City to German giants Borussia Dortmund. The 19-year-old has made 34 appearances in total for a Borussia Dortmund side that have a real chance of winning the Bundesliga title this term, with Bayern Munich struggling for consistency. Bellingham has been a standout player in that Dortmund team, and has chipped in with ten goals and six assists, which makes for encouraging reading.
The former Birmingham midfielder certainly has a bright future ahead of him, and has been linked with some of the biggest clubs in the world, which includes Liverpool, who are rumoured to be keen on striking an agreement ahead of the 2023/24 season. Liverpool need an upgrade in the centre of their midfield, and Bellingham would be a player that is ready to start games regularly in the Premier League, as well as being a player they can build their team around for future seasons.
Ryan Gravenberch
Gravenberch is another player tipped to have a bright future ahead of him, which isn’t surprising given some of his performances in European football in recent years. At the age of 20, he’s got a considerable amount of experience in first-team football, having featured for Ajax earlier in his professional career. He made the move to Bayern Munich in June 2022, but has struggled for a consistent run of regular minutes in their starting XI.
This has seen Liverpool linked with a move for the Dutch midfielder, and a move for the central midfielder makes complete sense for the Reds, who are likely to bolster their midfield options with much-needed strength in depth, having struggled with injuries at times during this year’s campaign.
Kim Min-Jae
You could be forgiven for not knowing too much about Kim Min-Jae a few years ago, but it’s safe to say he’s a player attracting significant attention for all the right reasons in recent months. The central defender has made a name for himself with Napoli, since moving to the Italian side in 2022, whilst also catching the eye for the South Korean national team at the 2022 World Cup.
The 26-year-old has labelled transfer rumours linking him with a move away from Napoli as ‘nonsense’, which has come after he was linked to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United of late. Kim Min-Jae has showcased his defensive capabilities to a high standard for much of the 2022/23 season, and he’s played a key role in Napoli’s impressive run to the Champions League Quarter-Finals. Liverpool could certainly benefit from signing a player of his quality in the summer transfer window, as the central defensive role is an area that could do with being strengthened. Virgil van Dijk’s quality has been clear to see since signing for the club from Southampton, but the Dutchman hasn’t had the best central defender alongside him for much of his time with the Reds. An upgrade on the likes of Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, or Joel Matip is what’s needed, and Kim Min-Jae is certainly that when you consider his composure on the ball, which will suit Liverpool’s style of football perfectly.
Declan Rice
This man won’t need much of an introduction, as he’s already established himself as one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League. Rice is captain of West Ham, but it seems as though it’s only a matter of time before he’s to depart, as there are plenty of clubs circling to land his signature ahead of the new league campaign, which is set to get underway in August.
He’s been ever-present for the Hammers and England in recent seasons, and given that West Ham are in serious danger of being relegated, it seems inevitable that Rice will leave the club in the summer, regardless of whether they’re to retain their Premier League status or not. Liverpool would face a serious amount of competition to strike a deal for Rice, as the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United are reportedly keen on signing him in the near future.
In a recent interview with My Betting Sites, transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio revealed that Liverpool or Arsenal are the most likely destinations for the 24-year-old.
“Arsenal or Liverpool is the most likely destination for him. I don’t think he will move to Chelsea as they have a lot of players in their midfield.
“But I’m sure that they will try to get him if they know that he is close to signing for Arsenal only because they don’t want him to go there. Chelsea are buying players like it’s a game and it’s a crazy situation right now at Chelsea.”
Harvey Barnes
Barnes is a player that Liverpool could potentially turn to if Leicester City were to drop out of the Premier League this season. The winger has been with the club since 2007, and has gone on to establish himself as a key player for the Foxes, as they look to find some much-needed momentum heading into the final few games of the 2022/23 season.
Barnes has made 31 appearances in total this season, and has chipped in with nine goals and three assists, which makes for impressive reading, especially since Leicester have found life in the top-flight tough this term. The 25-year-old would add much-needed depth to Liverpool’s attacking options, which have been struggling with injuries in recent seasons. The likes of Mo Salah, Luiz Diaz, Cody Gakpo, and Diogo Jota are all strong options, but their injury problems are a concern, and if Leicester were to be relegated this season, then Barnes could be a shrewd addition to Liverpool’s squad at a cut-price deal.