Liverpool have been eager on £315m of expertise – however didn’t get summer time transfers finished

Liverpool had a mixed bag of a summer transfer window, with several missed opportunities and targets falling by the wayside.

The Reds were on the brink of not signing any new players as the summer transfer window was closing. However, they managed to secure a deal for goalkeeper Georgi Mamardashvili, who will join in 2025, and made a significant £12.5million acquisition of Federico Chiesa from Juventus just before the deadline.

Despite the lack of fresh faces, Arne Slot‘s reign as manager has started strongly. His squad have maintained their excellent pre-season form into the Premier League, securing three consecutive wins including a notable 3-0 victory over Manchester United – even if there were certain positions they hoped to strengthen but failed to do so.

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Anthony Gordon

Liverpool’s early transfer window strategy clearly involved bringing in a new winger, especially with Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield uncertain as he enters the final year of his contract. Newcastle star Gordon became a prime target as his club found it difficult to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules deadline, necessitating some quick sales.

Liverpool saw an opportunity to capitalise on those issues, with defenders Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez reportedly considered in potential swap deals as Newcastle pondered a transaction. However, the Magpies chose to retain Gordon, balancing their finances elsewhere.

As quickly as Liverpool’s interest sparked, it was extinguished. Gordon no longer needed to be offloaded, leading to his price being hiked – a hefty £80m-plus offer was demanded – and the 23-year-old remained at the club.

The former Everton player continues to shine for Newcastle this season, netting one goal in their first three matches. He reportedly remains a future target for Liverpool and is a lifelong fan of the club.

Martin Zubimendi

Real Sociedad’s versatile defensive midfielder Zubimendi emerged as one of Slot’s transfer priorities this window when it became apparent the club were prepared to meet the Spaniard’s £51.5m release clause. With Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo as holding options, Zubimendi could have offered competition for the position and would potentially become a regular starter.

However, despite advanced discussions and it appearing that the club would secure its first summer signing, Zubimendi rejected them, opting to stay in Spain for at least another year. Liverpool can take comfort in the fact that Gravenberch has adapted well to playing under Slot and seems to have secured his position, particularly after his impressive performance against United.

Riccardo Calafiori

In addition to the solid interest in Gordon and Zubimendi, Liverpool had several other potential targets this summer. Riccardo Calafiori emerged as one of these options after attracting a host of admirers across Europe, primarily in the Premier League.

Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool were all reportedly interested in the 22-year-old to varying extents, with the Reds looking for a promising centre-half to potentially succeed Virgil van Dijk, whose contract expires next summer as he turns 34.

However, Arsenal were always the main contenders for Calafiori’s signature, and he eventually made the £42m move to the Emirates to join Mikel Arteta’s Gunners. He made his Premier League debut in the club’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa and is expected to be favoured as a left-back under Arteta, competing with Jurrien Timber and Oleksandr Zinchenko for the spot.

Arda Guler

Liverpool’s rumoured chase for Turkish prodigy Arda Guler didn’t gain traction this summer, but some reports suggested that the club approached Real Madrid about signing him. The 19-year-old creative forward only joined the Spanish giants in 2023.

But he struggled to secure regular first-team action given the wealth of talent at Carlo Ancelotti’s disposal. Euro 2024 saw him shine for his country, sparking rumours of a potential departure from the Bernabeu.

Liverpool were said to be renewing their interest in the star, who Transfermarkt values at £40m, from before his move last summer. Despite injuries to Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga, Guler has had limited playtime at Real Madrid this season after it became clear that a move to Anfield was off the table.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Liverpool’s quest for a top-tier winger would have inevitably led them to Napoli’s superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose arrival at Anfield would have caused quite a stir. However, a deal for the talented Georgian was never really on the table, despite reports suggesting Liverpool were gearing up to make a sensational bid for Kvaratskhelia.

It’s primarily due to his staggering price tag – rumoured to be over £100m. Kvaratskhelia had hinted at a possible exit from Napoli – especially since they missed out on Champions League football – and promised to make a decision post-Euro 2024.

Unfortunately, it became clear that apart from PSG, few clubs could afford the winger. Antonio Conte has now been assured that Kvaratskhelia will play a crucial role in his squad for the upcoming Serie A season.