Despite spending almost £450 million on new signings last year, a spate of injuries this season has left Arne Slot with a frightening shortage of senior options in a few key positions – particularly in defence, with several midfielders serving as emergency right-backs.
The Reds have already taken action to strengthen their backline ahead of the 2026/27 season by signing Jeremy Jacquet, who joins from Rennes this summer, but there may be a need for further defensive additions if negotiations over a potential new contract for Ibrahima Konate hit a dead end.
Liverpool could look ‘long and hard’ at signing a new number 6
In a readers’ questionnaire for the Liverpool echoDoyle was asked about the likelihood of incoming transfer activity this offseason and which positions are most likely to be targeted.
Although the journalist indicated that the activity could depend on which players leave in the summer, he drew particular attention to the need for a new defensive midfielder.
He stated: ‘The interesting position is in defensive midfield. Alexis Mac Allister is still rumored to be of interest to Real Madrid, while Wataru Endo received little attention before his injury.
‘With Slot pointing out the lack of cover in the position on Friday, I wouldn’t be surprised if Liverpool are looking long and hard for a big number six arrival. Maybe they need more than one.”
Are Liverpool likely to sign a defensive midfielder this summer?
Midfield is one of the few positions where Liverpool has not been hit hard by injuries this season. And while Endo will now be out for an extended period of time, he has been in the lineup sporadically this season.
Even if he had not been injured against Sunderland in midweek, it is likely that the Anfield hierarchy would have considered the addition of a specialist defensive midfielder in the summer.
While Ryan Gravenberch and Mac Allister excelled in the midfield engine room last season, that double act has not been as effective in the current campaign, and a case can be made for bringing in a proper starting number 6 in the form of Fabinho.
As Doyle pointed out, whether or not it happens this year may depend on the need to address other positions in the squad, and how far Liverpool’s transfer budget will stretch.
Slot caused unrest among some supporters this week when he stated that failure to qualify for the Champions League would have a ‘huge impact’ on the club’s purchasing power in the summer.The Athletics), and the importance of participating in that competition cannot be overstated.
It’s been almost three years since Jurgen Klopp’s massive midfield overhaul, which went a long way in transforming the Reds’ fortunes either side of the management transfer. It is not inconceivable that this situation can be addressed in the next transfer window, even if not to the same extent as in 2023.
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