Lewis Steele: ‘Expect 4 or 5 new signings for Liverpool this Summer’

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Anfield Index

·19 March 2025

Lewis Steele: ‘Expect 4 or 5 new signings for Liverpool this Summer’

Liverpool’s Transfer Window: New Signings, Players Leaving, and a Summer Reset

Liverpool’s summer transfer window is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal in recent history. With uncertainty surrounding key players and the need to strengthen multiple areas of the squad, big decisions await Arne Slot and the new-look recruitment team at Anfield.

Daily Mail journalist Lewis Steele recently joined Dave Davis on Anfield Index’s Media Matters Podcast to discuss Liverpool’s squad evolution. From new signings to potential exits, Steele provided insight into what lies ahead.

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Big Departures on the Horizon?

Liverpool’s squad could look drastically different next season, with uncertainty surrounding Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Darwin Núñez, and Luis Díaz. Steele noted:

“Five of the six forwards have uncertain futures. You’ve got Salah out of contract, Nunez out… very poor and linked away, Saudis are in for him. Diaz—Barcelona seemed to be hot on him. Chiesa has hardly played, and Jota—he’s not looked up to his usual self since coming back from injury.”

Salah, who has contributed to over half of Liverpool’s goals this season, remains the biggest question mark. His future, along with Van Dijk’s, will have a knock-on effect on the club’s transfer plans.

“If Salah leaves, all of a sudden you’ve lost, what is it, thirty-something goals and twenty-something assists? That is absolutely mental. And I generally don’t think there’s a player in Europe that can contribute those numbers to a team.”

Steele also highlighted the importance of Van Dijk:

“If Virgil leaves, you lose not just the best defender in Europe, but arguably the best captain in Europe as well.”

A Major Transfer Window Ahead

Liverpool are expected to be active in the summer, with several positions needing reinforcements. Steele shared his latest insights on incoming transfers:

“The word that I’ve had in the last week or so is that it’ll be maybe four or five signings this summer. But that also includes four or five exits as well.”

High-profile forwards like Alexander Isak and Julián Álvarez have been linked with Liverpool, but Steele questioned whether a big-money move was realistic:

“Isak… he is the hottest property in the Premier League right now, if not Europe. But are Liverpool really going to do a hundred and fifty million on one player? And if so, what’s the knock-on effect elsewhere?”

Strengthening the Squad Depth

One of Liverpool’s main concerns has been the lack of rotation, leading to fatigue in key players. Steele noted:

“Has Slot at times maybe taken that too far? Could he have put his trust more in the likes of Chiesa, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo?”

While Liverpool’s core squad has excelled, there are areas that need improvement. The midfield, despite its overall strong performances, could benefit from another addition:

“Gravenberch has looked on his feet in the last month for me. Brilliant all season, but he needs to be rotated more.”

A left-back signing is also on the agenda, with a possible exit for Kostas Tsimikas:

“Maybe move out Costa Simicas and sign a new left-back who’s going to, A, be the first choice with Robbo as the deputy, or B, Robbo has another year and this other new lad sort of eases his way in.”

The Future Hinges on Contract Decisions

Before Liverpool can finalise their summer plans, contract talks with key players must be resolved. Steele pointed out the importance of keeping Van Dijk and Salah at the club:

“If you take them two out, this team is maybe, like, sort of fifth, sixth, seventh in the table level.”

The club’s approach to ageing players has raised concerns, but Steele argued that Salah and Van Dijk deserve special treatment:

“FSG may need to just think… this is a superhuman athlete and we can make an exception here. The same with Mo. I don’t think there’s any harm at all in doing a one plus one contract situation.”

A Defining Summer for Liverpool

Liverpool’s 2024 summer transfer window will be defined by tough decisions. Arne Slot has had a stellar first season, but squad depth, contract renewals, and marquee signings will shape the club’s ability to remain competitive.

As Steele summarised: