Liverpool January Window needs for Arne Slot’s side

National World - LocalTV

A look at the January window for LFC.

Transcript

00:00So, well, looking at Liverpool and ahead to January now, it's obviously a big window.

00:06Liverpool, you know, they're famous, they had that massive window in January a couple

00:10of seasons ago. Looking forward, what do they sort of need from January? Because so far

00:16this season, they've sort of made a real impact on the league and in Europe as well. So, it's

00:22hard to sort of add to a side where you can't really see, you know, a clear area that needs

00:28improvement.

00:29It is, but I think maybe that's been the complaint from Liverpool fans in the past, for example,

00:38you know, when they won the Champions League, when they won the league, Liverpool didn't

00:41really strengthen the squads. And is this a moment to capitalise now? You know, at the

00:47minute, you know, top of the league, five points ahead of Man City, that could go to

00:51eight if they win that game at Anfield next month. And you're looking at it thinking,

00:57we can't let this position slip. So, do we go out and get a couple of more bodies in

01:02to bolster the squads? I mean, the one position you're probably looking at, obviously, is

01:08central midfield. Of course, you know, as I said before, Arnold Slot clearly showed

01:12his hands by looking to Simon and Zoupermendie in the summer, he didn't get that one over

01:18the line. I don't think that one has ever gone away. I would like to think that if a

01:24deal could be done, then Liverpool would be in position to go and swoop Zoupermendie because,

01:32you know, they were willing to pay the money in the summer and the midfielders are as a

01:35release clause. So, that's something that you could maybe look at doing. Obviously,

01:42maybe look to getting a centre back in, Lenny Ioro was one that they put the fields out

01:45for but didn't think he was worth the wages. So, maybe if he's a central defender, you're

01:51looking at that. I think a lot of supporters wouldn't be averse to getting in a new left

01:55back if it was the right player. Andy Robertson and Costa Simacast have split the position

02:01so far this season. Simacast has actually had a really good campaign so far after very

02:06much being number two for the previous four seasons under Jürgen Klopp, but he's made

02:12good improvements. But Robertson's 30, Simacast's 28, is he ever realistically going to be first

02:19choice? No, it would have happened beforehand. So, an up-and-coming left back potentially

02:25is something that fans would like to see. The boy at Bournemouth, Kerkes, is one who's

02:35been linked. Richard Hughes, Liverpool sporting director, signs him when he was at Bournemouth

02:40as their technical director. So clearly, there's a link there. So, I don't think it'll

02:46be a mad January for Liverpool, but they've shown in the past, as you've said, that they're

02:50willing to spend money. Virgil van Dijk, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakko, three signs that Liverpool

02:55are prepared to splash the cash if they think they're the right player.

03:00Just on Martin Zubermendy, obviously Arsenal are also showing huge interest. What's the

03:06difference there? Do Liverpool have that big pull over Arsenal? Obviously, a lot of foreign

03:12players do like living in London and do tend to go down there as well. So, what's the sort

03:16of pull that Liverpool can brag in terms of getting his signature over the line, if it

03:21does come to that? Yeah, there's Manchester City as well, obviously, isn't there? With

03:24Rodger out injured, they're struggling. As you say, the London pull can be a factor,

03:30but Liverpool's on the ground where they've told Martin Zubermendy exactly how they could

03:35see him fitting into the system. Arsenal's quite clearly a big admirer. In his first

03:41summer, he's come in and thought, I want this player. You can't really get a bigger compliment

03:47than that, to be honest with you, for a manager to come in and say, right, I want you to be

03:51my first major signing at a club like Liverpool. It's a massive compliment and I think Martin

03:58Zubermendy wasn't being flattered by the interest that Liverpool have shown. Look, he's not

04:03going to be short of suitors. He was very good in Sochi Dada's 1-0 win over Barcelona

04:11the other night. He's been regarded as the second-best holding midfielder in the world

04:17behind Rodgeri. But, yeah, I think there's quite clearly a place for him at Liverpool.

04:22Arnold Slott's already recognised where Martin Zubermendy can fit in. Yes, Ryan Graberberch

04:28has been excellent so far this season. Maybe they could dovetail together. Maybe he could

04:32play Graberberch in that No. 8 role a little bit further forward, have a little bit more

04:37flexibility with him. Maybe look at pushing Alexis McAlister up or have a bit of rotation

04:43there, of course. But, yeah, that's the pull that Liverpool have over Arsenal. Arsenal

04:48have got quite a few midfielders as well, don't forget. Declan Rice obviously brought

04:54the boy Moreno in from Sochi Dada's and that's the region of Spain that Mikel Alateta's from.

05:00But Liverpool laid the groundwork and you would think Arnold Slott can say, right, what

05:06I told you in the summer, nothing's changed. You're still my man and I want you to be happy

05:11to this midfield.

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