It will take years for Liverpool to finally address their squad strength issues – a direct replacement for Cody Gakpo won’t change anything.
That’s the view of former Reds winger Jermaine Pennant, who has told fans not to get their hopes up ahead of this summer’s transfer window.
6
The Reds spent £446m on new players last year after they won the Premier League and the club wanted to create a dynasty.
They have broken through the British transfer trade twice after signing Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, with the Merseyside outfit making history by spending the highest amount of money of any club in a single window.
Although Arne Slot’s side are expecting to defend their top flight title straight away, things have been anything but smooth this season as the club are on course for their worst result in a decade.
With nine games to go, they currently sit in sixth place and are a whopping 19 points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Now, as Liverpool fight to secure Champions League football, they risk finishing out of the top five for the first time since the 2015/16 season, in which they finished eighth.
While Liverpool have struggled with injuries this season, some of their high-profile signings have failed to hit the ground running.
And some of their proven stars such as Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate, Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister have struggled for consistency – leading to question marks over their future.
As part of The Pitch Prospect’s Inside Liverpool panel, they discussed what areas the club needs to target this summer to challenge for a record-equalling 21st league title.
Squad needs surgery
Host Sam Ellard said: “It almost feels like we need two new midfielders, a centre-back, a left-winger and a right-back for next season.”
“And to get four or five good players requires hundreds of millions of pounds more to be spent.”
6
6
“It almost feels like this should have happened last summer, but we have absolutely no choice but to go into another window where we need half a dozen new players.”
However, Pennant believes there is no chance the club will be able to address all of its issues this summer – and stresses this will be spread over multiple windows.
The former Arsenal man explained: “What we are going to do is, of course, we have to sell one of our wingers.”
“So when we sell Gakpo we’re replacing him, so it doesn’t really mean we’re strengthening him, it’s just a matter of putting in another body when one is gone.”
“On top of that you need an extra winger, so I don’t think we’ll see that.” [squad signings] in this next transfer window.
“I think it’s going to take a few years for them to get more bodies in instead of just taking one out and bringing one in.
6
6
“Because at the end of the day, you’re in the same position.”
As for the squad depth available to Slot, Pennant described the lack of sufficient talent as “baffling” given the amount of money spent last summer.
And he has hinted that the club will need to spend at least another £200m to get the team challenging for the title again.
He remarked, “It’s a disheartening sight when you look at our bench and see only pure children.”
“And the players there are not really creative players who could make a big impact – obviously Rio.” [Ngumoha is a creative player].
“Obviously Isak is a massive failure because when he shoots you can sub him in, or if he’s in the starting lineup you can sub someone in who might change the game too.”
6
Inside Liverpool on The Pitch Prospect
The Pitch Prospect brings you Liverpool like no other.
Stay one step ahead of every tactical change, managerial sackings and transfer rumors by making The Pitch Prospect’s Inside Liverpool show your weekly destination for all things Reds.
Subscribe now to ensure you never miss an episode, sponsored by BetMGM.
Download the app or visit us BetMGM.co.uk. 18+gambleaware.org
“And then of course [Giovanni] Leoni because he looked good in his first start before this huge success [ACL] Injury.
“Perhaps Konate would be in the starting line-up alongside Virgil because of his style of play.” [van Dijk].
“And I think we’re also missing Conor Bradley, so we’re missing some key players, but again the squad strength is low.”
“After spending so much money it’s confusing, where is everything? Where are the players? Why are we so small at the back and on the bench?”
“And I think we still need to spend over £200m to put together a strong team.”