Four Transfers Liverpool Could Revisit in January to Bolster Arne Slot’s Squad After Summer Disappointment

Liverpool missed out on several transfer targets this summer but may consider revisiting some deals in the New Year to strengthen Arne Slot’s squad further.

The club could potentially pursue up to four transfers in the January window after only securing two new signings this summer.

Giorgi Mamardashvili and Federico Chiesa joined Liverpool in the final week of August, but this came after several other targets slipped away in the weeks leading up to the season’s start. With that in mind, Newsnow Liverpool has taken a look at four targets the Reds could revisit in January 2025 transfer window.

Martin Zubimendi

The most significant miss was Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who had been Arne Slot’s top choice to fill Liverpool’s defensive midfield gap ahead of his first season as manager.

Despite reports that Zubimendi had assured sporting director Richard Hughes of his intention to move to Anfield, the 25-year-old made a last-minute decision to stay with his current club, much to Liverpool’s disappointment.

Given how close the deal appeared, it’s plausible that Liverpool may attempt to secure Zubimendi once again in January, hoping to finally persuade him to leave his boyhood club for the Premier League.

With a release clause of just €60 million (£51m/€66m), he remains within Liverpool’s budget, though it’s unclear if his price might rise before the January window due to the club’s recent interest.

Anthony Gordon

Liverpool could potentially revisit the Anthony Gordon situation, which caught the club by surprise at the beginning of the summer. Newcastle had offered the 23-year-old winger to Liverpool as it sought to comply with PSR guidelines.

However, the possibility of signing Gordon quickly faded when Newcastle managed to recoup funds through other player sales. It also became clear that Newcastle would demand a hefty $131 million (£100m/€119m) package for the England international if they were to consider selling him.

One key advantage for Liverpool is that Gordon is reportedly open to a move to Anfield. Despite his previous association with Everton, the former Toffee has always had a soft spot for Liverpool and spent time in the club’s youth setup before joining Goodison Park.

Marc Guehi

Defence is another area Liverpool has been eager to address, and the club was once heavily linked to Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi. Liverpool faced criticism for not pursuing the Eagles defender more aggressively, but patience could eventually pay off.

Newcastle had three bids for the England international rejected by Crystal Palace, which has been holding out for $98 million (£75m/€89m). For now, Guehi remains a Selhurst Park player, but with his contract entering its final 12 months next summer, his price may soon decrease.

Although a significant change in his price is not expected by January, Liverpool will still have a prime opportunity to secure the deal in four months, especially given that the club hasn’t spent on any players during the summer transfer window.

Alan Varela

Porto midfielder Alan Varela might re-enter consideration as a transfer target. He not only presents a strong alternative to Zubimendi but could also be a more affordable and easier signing.

Late window reports indicated that the Reds were considering a last-minute move for the Argentine before the transfer deadline, although nothing came of it.

However, Spanish journalist Luis Fregossi revealed that the Reds began exploring the possibility of pursuing Varela as early as April and inquired about his availability.

Varela, 23, has a release clause of $72 million (£55m/€65m) and has attracted significant interest from several clubs. Despite this, Porto considers him “non-transferrable” and plans to improve his contract, which runs until 2028.

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