Liverpool Transfer News & Rumours – Season 2019-2020

By Ayush Verma
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Updated: June 6, 2019
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After a memorable season last time out, European champions Liverpool will be looking to add even more quality to their squad this time, to be able to defend their European crown, as well as get past the last hurdle in the Premier League.

Successful and rapid recruitment was the key to Liverpool’s success last time, with Alisson, Fabinho and Shaqiri arriving well in time to allow them to truly integrate themselves into the squad. The budget was decided well in advance, and transfers carried out with ruthless efficiency. More of that will be required this time around.

The upgradation process at Anfield has already started, with Alberto Moreno and Daniel Sturridge confirmed absentees from next season’s squad, having been released by the club on Wednesday.

Nabil Fekir remains a player who’s been very strongly linked with Liverpool, after his transfer fell through last season because Liverpool’s hierarchy tried to renegotiate the valuation after a deal was already struck, causing Lyon to withdraw from the sale altogether. Fekir showed his quality in the Champions League last season, and he could add a whole new dimension to Liverpool this season, particularly now that more teams are likely to sit back and ‘park the bus’ against them. His arrival would give Klopp the option of starting 2 DMs instead of 3 like he did all last season, and go for an out and out creative maestro to break down stubborn back-lines.

Another name being thrown into the mix in the attacking midfielder department is that of Leicester City star James Maddison. While Leicester would hardly be keen on letting their prized asset move on a single season after signing him, should Liverpool show a willingness to match Leicester’s £60m valuation, Maddison would be the perfect ‘Klopp’ signing; a young player with a great work ethic, excellent on the ball and having a mean shot in him.

The £75m world record fee for Virgil Van Dijk last January initially seemed barbaric. But highly impressive, and more importantly, consistent performances have vindicated the board’s decision. They may be tempted similarly by the availability of Matthijs De Ligt, for whom they have reportedly already offered a rumoured £63m. I personally feel that De Ligt’s arrival, although highly unlikely at the moment, would make Liverpool’s defence the best in Europe, for quite some time to come.

Speaking of defensive improvements, I myself think a cheeky bid for Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti may well be to Liverpool’s advantage. With their pulling power at its greatest right now, and the Frenchman looking to leave following his dropping as 1^st choice at the Spanish club, a partnership of Umtiti and Van Dijk at the heart of Liverpool’s defence would be a concrete wall for opposition attackers. Although Umtiti (Cheaper than De Ligt) will not arrive for pennies on the dollar, at just 25 years of age, he could anchor Liverpool’s defence for at least the next 5 years.

And finally, an upgradation up top. Despite Divock Origi’s purple patch towards the close of last season, and his Champions League final goal, Origi remains a notch below the level of quality that Liverpool need in order to fiercly compete next season again. Part of the reason they fought tooth and nail with Manchester City for the league was the fact that they had been eliminated extremely early from the domestic cup competitions, and therefore had significantly fewer instances mandating benching of their star front 3. In attack, able deputies are a must for a club fighting on all fronts, and I’m not sure Origi provides that.

Here is when Memphis Depay of Lyon enters the fray. Although the Dutchman failed to impress during his spell at Manchester United, he’s been delivering the goods consistently for Lyon, and has been heavily linked with a move away, with Liverpool rumoured to be his destination. Although Depay would represent quite the coup, an even better upgrade may be possible in the form of Timo Werner of RB Leipzig. Werner represents everything that Liverpool desire in an attacker, with pace, work rate, good finishing ability, and ability to link up play. Despite a dip in form when you compare his output last season to the one prior, Werner remains a huge potential asset for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

In a nutshell, a centre back, a creative midfielder and a back-up striker are the essentials that Liverpool should look to procure this window to establish themselves as one of Europe’s most feared sides. Once the quality has been added to the first team, upgrades can be made on a few fringe players, and finally depth must be added to realistically challenge for multiple trophies simultaneously, akin to what City did this season. All in all, it becomes a 3 summer project to turn Liverpool into Europe’s elite, and this season represents the perfect opportunity to get it off the ground, after a hugely successful European outing last season. Standing still and watching rivals strengthen would be a fatal mistake, and one I’m sure Klopp will not be willing to make.