Arne Slot has now officially taken charge of Liverpool and is looking to get his summer business done early.
Slot has been waiting in the wings as the last dying embers of Jurgen Klopp’s emotional goodbye flickered out.
With his Liverpool career now underway though, the Dutchman will be casting his eyes over how he can improve his first-team squad.
Making an addition at centre-back is reportedly Liverpool’s number one priority in the market. However, it should not be the only objective.
Slot will still have to wait a little while before being able to properly assess his players at the AXA Training Centre. Despite that, the 45-year-old should not need a full viewing of his squad to see that Liverpool could do with an elite defensive midfielder.
Liverpool stepping up push for Alan Varela
Thankfully, Michael Edwards, Richard Hughes and the rest of the Liverpool recruitment team appear to be in agreement with the notion that the Reds are a little short in holding midfield.
Wataru Endo did a good job for most of the season, but when he went downhill, Endo went downhill rather fast.
At 31, the Japan captain was only supposed to be a short-term measure. Liverpool still need that elusive Fabinho replacement.
According to Spanish based journalist Eduardo Burgos, the Reds are now looking to address this.
READ MORE: Confirmed Liverpool incomings, outgoings and loan moves during the 2024/25 transfer window
After links with Porto midfielder Alan Varela during the season, Burgos took to X to claim that Liverpool will now begin negotiations to sign the 22-year-old.
“Liverpool intensify contacts for Alan Varela, one of the objectives for the summer,” writes the journalist.
“His clause is 70M [£60m] and Boca has a % sale of the player. It is expected that they will soon open negotiations with Porto for his transfer. He will go to the Paris Olympic Games with Argentina.”
Juan Roman Riquelme gives Alan Varela approval
If any Liverpool fans aren’t quite sure just how good Varela is, they need only listen to one of the legends of the game.
Juan Roman Riquelme built a reputation as one of the finest playmakers in history during his career.
Although watchers of European football never quite saw the best of him, Riquelme was a superstar for Boca Juniors, where he is revered.
Now president of the club, Riquelme watched Varela come through the youth academy at Boca before shining in the first-team.
And speaking to Argentine outlet TyC Sports about the now Porto midfielder in March this year, the 45-year-old raved about the ‘phenomenon’ that is Varela. He also suggested that the former Boca man is ready to make the next step.
“If he’s bought by another club, he’s welcome, because he’s a phenomenon as a person and he does everything that a footballer should do,” Riquelme said.
“He played more than 100 games, won five titles and went to a league where he has time to continue growing. It’s a phenomenon. God willing that tomorrow he moves to a great club and it would make us very happy because he deserves it.”