Reds Near 20th League Title but Squad Rebuild Still Feels Essential | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Transfer Strategy Could Define the Next Era

As Liverpool close in on their historic 20th English league title, sitting 11 points clear with seven games to play, the mood around the club is more cautious than celebratory. Arne Slot’s debut season has been a blend of exhilarating highs and frustrating setbacks, with cup exits and a dip in form putting the spotlight on the squad’s limitations. While domestic glory edges closer, the focus behind the scenes is already shifting to the summer — and how Liverpool can reshape and replenish a squad that has run itself into the ground.

One solution may lie in the strategic sales of several first-team players. With Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk committed to new long-term contracts, the club has a strong leadership spine to build around. Now, Sporting CEO Michael Edwards and Director of Football Richard Hughes could be tasked with cashing in on valuable assets like Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez — not just to refresh the squad, but to help fund a significant summer overhaul.

Maximising Market Value in the Saudi Era

Few executives in European football understand the selling market like Michael Edwards. During his first stint at Liverpool, he was responsible for extracting top dollar for fringe and first-team players alike — from Rhian Brewster (£23.5m) to Dominic Solanke (£19m), and Philippe Coutinho’s £142m move to Barcelona. This time around, the opportunity may lie in a different market: Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Pro League remains determined to attract elite-level players, and Liverpool’s squad features several who could appeal to their ambitions. Díaz and Núñez, while still offering sporadic flashes of brilliance, have struggled with inconsistency and might not be part of Slot’s long-term tactical plans. Both players are still in their prime years and under long-term contracts, which puts Liverpool in a strong negotiating position. With Saudi clubs willing to pay well over market value, the Reds could raise significant funds without compromising their core project.

Liverpool are expected to force one or two exits, especially if the right offers come in from outside Europe, with marquee names offering the best scenario for a strong sale.

The War Chest Arne Slot Needs

While this season may end in triumph, it’s clear that the squad requires further evolution. Injuries and fatigue have exposed the fragility beneath the preferential starting group. To address that, Slot will need more than just smart loans or cut-price additions to add assets he can trust to start games. The former Feyenoord manager needs a war chest — one that can support 5-6 significant incoming transfers.

Selling Díaz and Núñez for £60-70m each would open up real possibilities: a new central striker with power and precision, a wide forward capable of matching Salah’s output, a specialist defensive midfielder, and two defenders to cover the loss of Trent Alexander Arnold and regression of Andy Robertson. Edwards and Hughes will be aware that supplementing what they already have with the right profiles could create a Liverpool side that doesn’t just compete — but dominates.

The biggest test of Slot’s Liverpool rebuild will be how decisively the club acts in this next window of change, and whether they are willing to part with players who, while popular, may not be central to what comes next.

Building From Strength, Not Sentiment

The value of a Premier League title cannot be overstated — especially one that brings Liverpool level with Manchester United on 20. But it cannot be the end of the road as continued success is what this historical club is built upon. As recent weeks have shown, this squad remains vulnerable to fatigue, tactical inflexibility, and inconsistency. It needs fresh legs, sharper tools, and greater depth.

By holding on to cornerstones like Salah and Van Dijk while making savvy exits for others, Liverpool can strike a balance between continuity and reinvention. That balance is what will define Arne Slot’s next chapter — and whether Liverpool can turn one title into many.