Intrigue is surrounding who Arne Slot’s first signing as Liverpool manager will be.
Marko Grujic famously had the honour of being the first player bought during the Jurgen Klopp era. Hopefully Slot’s maiden addition will be a little more notable.
For the time being though, nothing looks especially imminent at Anfield. The continuation of the summer’s international football plus Slot’s recent arrival have made it a slow market so far for Liverpool.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Reds have been in touch again with Lille over signing Leny Yoro. However, it seems fairly certain that Yoro is heading for Real Madrid instead.
And after reports surfaced on Tuesday, it now seems likely that the 18-year-old is not the only transfer target Liverpool will miss out on.
Liverpool set to miss out on Alex McCarthy signing
Losing out to Madrid for Yoro would not be too much of a problem for Liverpool. The Reds reportedly see Yoro as more of an ‘opportunistic’ signing.
Failing to sign the Frenchman would not alter their transfer plans as it seems he’s seen more as a kind of bonus player.
Nevertheless, Liverpool do need a centre-back this summer. Slot could do with at least one more addition to the first-team squad in defence.
The other area that the Reds simply have to address is in the goalkeeping department. Adrian looks set to leave, meaning Liverpool will need a new third choice ‘keeper.
And with Caoimhin Kelleher’s future in huge doubt as well, it feels likely that Slot will need a number two to boot.
READ MORE: All confirmed Liverpool incomings, outgoings, loans and releases for 2024/25
According to reports in May, Liverpool were considering a move for Southampton goalie Alex McCarthy. It seemed at the time that McCarthy was being thought of as a replacement for Adrian.
As per the latest reports from TeamTALK though, Slot was actually thinking of the 34-year-old as an ideal number two, should Kelleher leave.
But unfortunately for Liverpool, McCarthy is reportedly ‘on the verge’ of signing a new deal to stay at Southampton. The Saints are said to have no plans to let the veteran leave and have instead made ‘quick progress’ on a new contract.
This will reportedly put a big spanner in Slot’s transfer plans. The new head coach is now claimed to have been ‘forced to look at other options’ as McCarthy is off the table.
Liverpool have to make Pepe Reina move
With Adrian set to go, we’d perhaps argue that Kelleher is now more likely to stay at Liverpool.
There were reports over the weekend that Liverpool have doubled their asking price for Kelleher. The Reds could seemingly do business only for around £40m. That seems steep.
Regardless of whether the Irishman does leave or not though, Liverpool need a number three. Hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by former Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl [Hampshire Live], McCarthy would have been a decent choice.
In terms of Adrian, he has been a good servant to the club over five years and deserves his return to boyhood club Real Betis. His personality, leadership and experience will need to replicated by whoever comes in.
In our opinion, the obvious choice to replace Adrian has to be Pepe Reina. The former Liverpool goalie is out of contract with Villarreal and looking for a final chapter to his career.
On a free transfer, the 41-year-old could finally draw a line under what felt like a premature exit from Anfield in 2013. One to think about.