Arne Slot still faces transfer uncertainties after Liverpool passed on £59m and £75m deals.

During the January transfer window, many Liverpool fans would have eagerly welcomed the signing of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Although their interest in the Georgian forward became public, Liverpool opted not to act, and he joined Paris Saint-Germain in a £59m move from Napoli. Similarly, in the summer, Liverpool agreed to a £75m deal with Newcastle United for Anthony Gordon, only for the Magpies to back out after securing funds elsewhere to meet the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.

The prospect of signing a new left-sided forward is always exciting, as evidenced by the buzz around players like Federico Chiesa. However, despite being linked to potential left-wing additions twice in the past seven months, Liverpool hasn’t suffered from missing out on these deals. The club’s previous January signings, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz, have proven to be more than sufficient.

Liverpool’s last mid-season signings came in consecutive January windows—Diaz from FC Porto for £37m in 2022 and Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven for £35m in 2023. Both transfers, including add-ons, amounted to £95m combined, a bargain compared to the fees for Gordon and Kvaratskhelia.

Gakpo, in particular, is enjoying his best season yet, scoring 14 goals so far, with 13 coming from starts. Arne Slot’s decision to move Gakpo back to his preferred left-wing role has been pivotal in unlocking his potential. Alongside Mohamed Salah and Diaz, Gakpo’s contributions make the need for a new left-winger unnecessary.

However, this shift has led to questions about Liverpool’s central attacking options. Slot’s decision to play Diaz centrally has yielded mixed results, with the Colombian producing standout performances, like a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen, but struggling for consistency. Injuries to Diogo Jota and the inconsistent form of Darwin Núñez have left the Reds in need of a reliable striker.

While Salah and Gakpo ensure Liverpool remains strong in attack, the summer may see decisions regarding the central-forward position. Slot’s tactical adjustments have addressed the left-wing concerns, but Liverpool may still need reinforcements in other attacki

ng areas.