Jurgen Klopp has never really been a fan of the January transfer window. But even in his previous dismissal of the mid-season opportunity to rejuvenate his squad, the Liverpool boss offered a clue of when he would ultimately consider doing business.
“We want to have players who are ready to develop and that’s not a message for the winter transfer window,” said Klopp back in December 2016. “If you don’t have the biggest injury issues in the world and you need players only for the line-up then you should only do things you would do in the summer too, because otherwise you solve a problem for half-a-year then have another one in the summer.”
Not for Klopp the short-term fix unless, as on deadline day in 2021, the Reds had no option but to make an emergency double centre-back swoop to sign Ben Davies from Preston North End and take Ozan Kabak on loan from Schalke. That neither lasted long – Davies not even playing a single minute – merely strengthens the policy of the Liverpool boss.
The Reds have, in the seven years since Klopp’s comments, instead used the New Year as a chance to fast-track transfers that were already tentatively being assessed – or, in the case of Virgil van Dijk in January 2018, had failed to get over the line the previous summer.
That has been evident in three of the last four January windows, with the Reds on each occasion taking the opportunity to strengthen their attacking options mid-season. In 2020 it was Takumi Minamino who helped relieve some of the pressure on the title-chasing team. Two years later, the arrival of Luis Diaz made a huge impact in helping Liverpool stay challenging on four fronts, while last season Cody Gakpo’s influence was key to the evolution of a new-look team.
This year, though, even with Mohamed Salah departing for Africa Cup of Nations duty, it would be a surprise if Liverpool once again brought in a forward. And there won’t be a new left-back, even with Kostas Tsimikas joining Andy Robertson on the sidelines. Robertson is expected to be back inside a month, and Joe Gomez has been impressive as a stand-in.
Instead, glancing at what business Liverpool will most likely have to do in the summer offers clues to any possible incomings next month. And the two obvious areas for imminent improvement would be at centre-back and central midfield, where Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara respectively are out of contract at the end of the season.
The defensive situation would appear the more pressing, given Matip has, as things stand, played his last game for Liverpool after suffering an ACL injury, although the emergence of Jarell Quansah has been a welcome bonus. And in the longer term, there remains a nagging question over whether there are enough established options in the number six role.
Any other summer business will be determined by departures and the natural evolution of the squad, none of which should be expected to be addressed next month barring any opportunist purchase.
In terms of New Year outgoings, Nat Phillips is likely to be sent on loan again after returning from an indifferent spell at Celtic, while Fabio Carvalho could face the same prospect should his disappointing temporary stay at RB Leipzig be cut short.
With more than £180million spent on players during the January transfer window under Klopp, Liverpool have shown they aren’t averse to splashing the cash when required. The Reds, though, have long demonstrated they will only recruit mid-season if the timing, as much as the deal itself, is right.
