As Liverpool wrapped up its season strongly with a league-title statement, the ambitious club outlined its off-season blueprint.
Prior to the season finale, the Reds signed Jeremie Frimpong in response to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure.
Arne Slot, along with other managerial staff, was already in off-season working mode, discussing potential squad adjustments that could help solidify his system.
There’s no secret that Liverpool wants to win the Champions League; all Kopites in the street know that.
The PL powerhouse in Merseyside, which showcased its domestic competitiveness and sufficient performance in the Champions League this year, proved it still held decent odds for a title-race opportunity.
That being said, the club didn’t just settle for winning the Premier League title; it aspired to the Old Big Ears on a higher stage. Let’s dive into what Liverpool should work on this summer.
A Busy Window Ahead
Florian Wirtz
Shown by its Jeremie Frimpong signing, Liverpool broke its silence after no significant additions last year.
Its summer transfer strategy appeared focused on strengthening key areas, particularly defense and midfield, with several high-profile signings in advanced stages or with questions.
While pursuing Frimpong’s Leverkusen teammate Florian Wirtz, the Bundesliga side rejected despite Liverpool submitting a club-high €130 million bid.
According to Sport BILD, Leverkusen are demanding a €150m deal for the German international. As the negotiation is still going on. If Liverpool continues its pursuit with a matching bid, it would break the PL record.
Is Wirtz worth such a high price? The Leverkusen talisman put up 10+12 goal involvements, which is equivalent to the level he produced last season when he led his team to a league championship, demonstrating his sharp scoring and clinical passing.
We’ve broken down the benefits he would bring if both could finalize the record-breaking deal.
As a primarily attacking field player who can play both wings and solo at the very frontline, the German could provide versatility and dynamics for the Reds’ offensive end. Importantly, at the age of 22, Wirtz still has plenty of time to develop and even became immense.
Milos Kirkez
Confirmed by The Athletic‘s James Pearce on Tuesday, Liverpool is close to securing Bournemouth's left-back Milos Kerkez for around £45m, with personal terms agreed and the player keen on the move.
At 21, Kerkez has been one of the Premier League's standout left-backs, starting all 38 games for Bournemouth in 2024-25.
Despite interest from Manchester City, Liverpool is considered the frontrunner, with negotiations expected to "ramp up" this week.
This signing could see Andy Robertson demoted to a backup role, with Kostas Tsimikas potentially leaving to make way for Kerkez, offering long-term competition at left-back.
Rayan Cherki
It was surprising to see the Lyon forward, who has expressed confidence in his ability to fit into Liverpool's playing style, hop into the Reds’ summer-plan conversation.
As speculation around a Premier League move grows, Cherki has been reflecting on his future and potential next steps.
The 21-year-old French youth international impressed during the season, registering 12 goals and 20 assists across all competitions.
His standout performances have drawn interest from top European clubs, with Manchester City and Liverpool both reportedly monitoring him. Report confirms that Slot had flew to meet Cherki for further conversation.
Other Potential Targets
Despite reports mentioning Liverpool’s interest in high-profile figures such as Alexander Isak, Carlos Baleba, and Julián Alvarez, these remain speculative, with no concrete reports confirming advanced talks as of now.
Players to Depart
Caoimhin Kelleher (confirmed)
On Tuesday, Liverpool officially announced his move to Brentford. As arguably the best backup goalkeeper of the club’s history, the Irishman contributed a large part of Liverpool’s two EFL Cup titles (2022, 2024) with sensational plays on the last yard of the defensive line.
Following his departure is Giorgi Mamadashvili’s advent after Liverpool secured his deal last year, who is expected to fill the backup goalkeeping spot.
Though experiencing a stumbling season with Valencia this season, the Georgian produced eight clean sheets that helped his team step away from relegation.
Kostas Tsimikas (possible)
As mentioned, Tsimikas is likely to leave if Liverpool could land Korkez. The Greek defender had been a backup to Robertson since joining Liverpool from Olympiacos in 2020.
This season, he made only nine Premier League starts, with two of those coming after Liverpool had already secured the title.
Harvey Elliott (possible)
Like Tsmikas, Elliott also has had a tough season at Liverpool, starting just four games due to limited opportunities and an early foot injury.
Despite making nearly 150 appearances since joining in 2019, Elliott has hinted he may consider leaving if his playing time isn’t secured, depending on the club's plans.
Several clubs, including Newcastle and teams in the Bundesliga, are interested in him. Liverpool has reportedly set the price between $52 million and $64 million, but Newcastle appears unlikely to pursue him seriously, as he's not a top target.
Luis Diaz (possible)
Diaz has been an important figure for Liverpool since arriving from Porto in January 2022, including tallying 15 goals and 8 assists in 45 appearances this season.
While his contract runs until 2027, extension talks have yet to produce an agreement.
Liverpool may consider selling the Colombian this summer if they receive an offer over £60 million, with both Barcelona and Al-Nassr reportedly interested.
Without a new deal in place, the club could opt to cash in now to avoid a potential drop in value or losing him for free in the future. His exit would be a major loss, but the funds could support other transfer plans.
While there has been no confirmation regarding his rumored departure, Diaz’s partner, Gera Ponce, shared a suggestive message on her social media suggesting that Diaz may be leaving the club this summer.
In her post, she included photos of Diaz and their children during the title celebration in front of the Kop, expressing gratitude for the fans' support in the caption.
John Heitinga (confirmed)
Heitinga had left his role as Arne Slot’s assistant at Liverpool to become Ajax’s head coach, leaving the Reds in search of a replacement.
Liverpool is reportedly considering a former player for the role, with Dirk Kuyt emerging as a strong candidate.
Kuyt, who scored 71 goals in 285 appearances for the club, is currently managing Beerschot, a Belgian Pro League team facing relegation.
His attacking approach and familiarity with Liverpool align well with Slot’s style, and his potential availability makes him a realistic option, though nothing is confirmed yet.
Slot: Keep Building on Success
Arne Slot’s debut season at Liverpool has been a fairytale success, with the club securing the Premier League title after earning 84 points from 25 wins, 9 draws, and 4 losses, and a goal difference of +45.
Slot’s efforts were recognized as he won both the Premier League Manager of the Season and the League Managers Association (LMA) award.
Building on former manager Jurgen Klopp’s legacy, Slot introduced tactical adjustments, known as “Slot-ball”, that pushed the team to new heights.
Slot has made it clear that his goal is to turn Liverpool into consistent title contenders. In interviews with This Is Anfield, he emphasized the importance of continued improvement and plans to use the summer break to refine the squad.
Slot aims to keep the club competitive by smartly integrating new signings and maintaining a high-performance standard.
Pre-season training is set to begin on July 8 at the AXA Training Centre, six weeks after the season's conclusion.
Slot confirmed this timeline during his pre-match press conferences and stressed its importance for preparing the team for the 2025–26 campaign.
This upcoming phase will be crucial for welcoming new arrivals. Slot sees this transitional period as an opportunity to build momentum and strengthen the team’s tactical identity, with friendly matches and training camps expected, though specific dates and opponents are yet to be confirmed.
Pre-season fixtures:
vs. AC Milan at Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong
vs. Yokohama FM at Nissan Stadium, Japan
vs. Crystal Palace (Community Shield) TBD