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Liverpool may be comfortably perched at the summit of the Premier League, but a mini-squad overhaul could be on the cards in the coming months. Arne Slot didn’t do much with his roster last summer but knows its strengths and weaknesses a lot better now.
Aside from the ongoing contract dramas involving Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, there are several areas across the pitch that Liverpool might need to address. However, before FSG greenlights any high-profile transfers, Liverpool could generate funds and free up space through player sales — with several squad members potentially holding significant value.
According to the CIES Football Observatory, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez are currently the most valuable players in terms of transfer fees within Liverpool’s ranks. The pair’s value is distorted due to the remaining duration of their contracts, compared to star players like Van Dijk, Salah and Alexander-Arnold, who can all depart on free transfers at the season’s end, plus their age.
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Nonetheless, CIES estimates that Gakpo carries a value of $104m (£87m/€106m) for Liverpool, while Nunez is valued slightly lower at $100m (£82m/€98m). Following them, Ryan Gravenberch is said to be worth $99m (£81m/€96m), Dominik Szoboszlai $94m (£77m/€92m) and Alexis Mac Allister $92m (£75m/€89m).
While it’s unlikely any of the top-tier players will be sold, Liverpool’s purported second-most valuable player, Nunez, could potentially facilitate future signings if FSG can recoup anywhere near the $108m (£85m/€100m) they invested in him three years ago. It remains to be seen how much interest there might be in the player, however.
Despite his directness and ability to electrify the crowd, Nunez has struggled to secure a regular spot in either Jurgen Klopp or Arne Slot’s starting line-up. A move to Serie A has been suggested previously, and with only two years remaining on his contract at the end of this season, it might be the right time for Liverpool to part ways with the Uruguayan.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. -Credit:Carl Recine/Getty Images
Diogo Jota finds himself in a similar situation, with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2027. The Portuguese international has battled with fitness issues throughout his time at Anfield and, despite proving effective when fit, injury problems continue to hamper his progress.
This could necessitate a few offensive reinforcements for Liverpool in the upcoming transfer windows, particularly if Federico Chiesa’s career fails to take off on Merseyside. The Italian has made just one Premier League appearance since his summer arrival.
Factor in the search for a long-term successor to Andy Robertson, and potentially another centre-back, and there are a few areas of need. As good as Gravenberch has been, some help for him in the number six role is essential too.