It was always going to be a summer of change for Liverpool following Jurgen Klopp’s bombshell announcement back in January that he would be departing following eight and a half years on Merseyside.
With Michael Edwards back working alongside club owners Fenway Sports Group and new sporting director Richard Hughes in place, Arne Slot was the man chosen to take the reins and replace one of the most iconic managers in the club’s history.
Slot has overhauled the coaching department since his arrival but despite the mass changes behind the scenes, Liverpool are the only club at the time of writing not to make a permanent transfer.
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The lack of transfer business has been a cause for concern for a large section of Liverpool supporters who are worried after seeing rivals such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United already bolster their ranks this summer.
But club legend Jamie Carragher believes supporters should relax and allow the Liverpool decision makers to do what they do best this summer.
“No, they're not right to be concerned. You've got to trust the club,” he exclusively told SPORTbible. “What this club has done with transfer fees over the last eight to 10 years has been phenomenal. We've got the structure back at the club that everybody wanted, trust them, let them do their job.
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“Liverpool are a very good team so it's not easy to go and find players who are better than what you've got. That's the only reason you should be bringing players in anyway and you've also got a manager who doesn't know the squad yet either.
“I could probably understand the frustration if Jurgen Klopp was still the manager because we want to get our business done early, he knows the squad better than anyone and knows exactly what we need. Arne Slot will be listening to Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes but you want to see things with your own eyes, all the players aren't even back yet. I'm not worried about it.”
Furthermore, Carragher believes that Liverpool need to lose a few players before they can think about additions.
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He added: “I think Liverpool's squad is really big, you can't just buy players, you've got to move players on. I know people think we move players on because we've got to get money in but there are only so many players you can have in a squad.
“We have got a big squad, it doesn't feel like it because there was so many injuries. If we sort our injury record out this season, there are players who will have to leave, probably four or five because there are just too many players.”
While the wait goes on for a permanent senior signing, Liverpool did have a deal in motion earlier in the window, if recent reports are to be believed.
Anthony Gordon emerged as a credible target amid Newcastle’s need to offload players in order to pass the Premier League’s strict Profit and Sustainability regulations (PSR) and Gordon was seen as a last resort option to raise funds.
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It’s believed Liverpool had agreed to sign the former Everton winger for £75 million in a deal that would see Joe Gomez head to St. James Park for £45 million with medicals pencilled in to take place in Leipzig, Germany.
However, following Newcastle’s deals to sell Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson, to Brighton and Nottingham Forest respectively, the Gordon deal was scrapped.
Carragher claims it would have been an excellent signing for Liverpool but believes the 23-year-old is already playing for a top club.
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“I think it would be a good signing for Liverpool, I'm a big fan,” he said. “ I can't believe he didn't get more opportunities for England. He's got blistering pace that leaves defenders for dead and not many players worldwide have that. I'm a big fan but I'm sure so many people are at other clubs as well, he's at a top club in Newcastle but there's been a lot of talk about whether he was offered to Liverpool.
“There is a lot of time to get between now and the end of the window, I think a lot of teams will do business towards the end of the window because of the Euros. I do feel Liverpool still haven't replaced the pace they had in the attack when they had Sadio Mane and they need to replace that.”
Priority number one for Slot is resolving the future of Liverpool’s top names with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold all entering the final year of their contract at Anfield.
Alexander-Arnold in particular, a player entering the prime of his career, is someone Liverpool fans are desperate to tie down amid interest from Real Madrid.
The Liverpool-born defender was spotted on holiday with close friend Jude Bellingham amid speculation over a potential move to the Bernabeu and added fuel to the fire by signing a Real Madrid shirt for a young fan.
Carragher believes it’s all part of the modern game and expects him to sign a new deal but fears Real Madrid are lining up a free transfer in a year's time.
The Sky Sports pundit said: “I've always believed he would stay. It's up for debate. He's going to be the next captain. He's a local lad. I always think you have that greater affinity when you're a local player. I certainly did, Steven Gerrard didn't go to Real Madrid or Chelsea because it was Liverpool.
“You've got to remember Real Madrid have got a decent right-back, he's just won the Euros, and I think he's won the European Cup about six times. He's not a dud. My fear is that Real Madrid are thinking of signing him in another year's time because I don't think they're ready to offload [Dani] Carvajal just yet. Maybe in a year's time - who knows?
“I think it's all negotiation. With Jude, signing a Real Madrid top or whatever. I think it's all part of the game. I didn't play these games and I actually think I should have done, I'd have probably got a bit more money out of it! I only used to go in, have a chat, say what I wanted, Liverpool would say what they wanted and we'd meet in the middle. I wish I would have been putting all this stuff out myself! I'm sure it'll get sorted out.”
Carragher is spearheading Sky Sports' campaign bringing stories from 92 fans from ALL clubs across the Premier League and EFL ahead of the new season.
The Liverpool legend believes it's hugely important for every club to have a voice and looks forward to seeing the extended coverage across all divisions in the hopes of watching his own son, James, live on Sky Sports featuring for Wigan Athletic.
He said: "The 92 teams, 92 fans getting linked with Sky. I think it's brilliant because when you think in the past, you thought of Sky Sports and the Premier League really, they were just a match made in heaven from day one. We always had a few EFL games on but now it looks like it's not just the Premier League clubs, there are 72 EFL clubs as well who are a massive part of football in this country.
"I think it's great to have that link to every football club through the 92 fans, fans who might not normally get their say as much getting heard a bit more. I know that myself, my son is at Wigan, I'm excited to see hopefully a few of his games on television which would be a great thrill, I'm sure that's the same for the friends and families of all these players up and down the country."
Carragher was speaking on behalf of Sky Sports as part of its start of season football campaign which brings together 92 passionate football fans from each team across the Premier League & EFL to share their hopes for the 2024/25 season.
With the launch of Sky Sports+, fans can enjoy more football on Sky including all EFL teams at least 20 times a season. See fan stories from all 92 clubs in the Premier League & EFL by keeping an eye on Sky Sports social media channels ahead of the new season.
Topics: Liverpool, Transfers, Jamie Carragher, Premier League, Jurgen Klopp, Real Madrid, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Spotlight
Marcus Banks