With less than a week remaining until the transfer window closes, Liverpool have only made one signing.
The Reds rightly looked to strengthen their central defensive options this summer, after they had to use 20 different partnerships in the heart of their backline last season.
Ibrahima Konate has joined the club, signing from RB Leipzig, but as things stand he is Liverpool’s only new man for 2021/22.
The powers that be at the club have done well to secure the long-term futures of a quintet of key players by extending their contracts, but that does little to appease those fans who crave new signings above and beyond almost anything else.
READ MORE: Free agents Liverpool could sign now or agree deals with in January
While it does not seem likely that the Reds will be making any more signings before August draws to a close – and Jurgen Klopp hinted as much recently – the transfer window isn’t over until it’s over.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at what might turn out to be the worst- and best-case transfer scenario for Liverpool this summer.
Worst case scenario
If Liverpool don’t sign any more midfielders, then they are gambling on the fitness records of players whose availability in recent seasons does not inspire confidence.
The loss of Gini Wijnaldum has left an enormous hole in the Reds’ midfield. Ignore the League Cup tie with Lincoln City and the Dutchman was in the squad for every single match last season, appearing in 51 of them.
Without a midfield signing that huge shortfall is theoretically going to be covered by Naby Keita but he had five separate injury absences last season which kept him out for 27 games in total.
Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain each missed between 19 and 21 matches, James Milner will be 36 in January while Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott are surely too young to rely upon if needed for an extended period with two matches to play most weeks.
Liverpool’s gamble to rely on three senior centre-backs backfired in 2020/21, and they could face a similar issue in midfield this term.
The Reds may also find themselves lumbered with players they need to pay who will barely feature, if they make any appearances at all. Loris Karius is the most obvious example, but what of Divock Origi?
The Belgian was left out of the squad for the Burnley match and saw less action in pre-season than the likes of Kaide Gordon. Of the two, most Kopites would prefer to see the exciting youngster feature so it would be unfortunate if Origi hung around for another year when a sale would suit all parties.
Best case scenario
Kylian Mbappe. My work in this section is done.
Okay, the chances of the French international arriving at Anfield this summer, particularly after Real Madrid have reportedly a made a €180m bid, are less than remote.
But while that notion seems fanciful, it isn’t unrealistic to think that Michael Edwards may yet seal an exciting deal or two which nobody sees coming.
After all, there was little indication that the Reds were interested in signing Diogo Jota before the transfer which made him Liverpool’s most expensive signing of 2020/21 was confirmed. And he has been a smash hit, having already scored 11 Premier League goals while only making 14 starts in the competition.
As part of this best-case scenario, it would help if there were some sales made, to provide some funds to be reinvested in the squad.
Nat Phillips is one potential candidate to leave. His departure would be good for both player and club, in terms of advancing his own career on a long-term basis but also in the sense that his transfer value may currently be at it’s highest.
Origi is another candidate to go, and his exit would carry the additional bonus of freeing up a spot for a non-homegrown player. A certain K. Mbappe, perhaps?
