Arne Slot’s Liverpool remain on top in the Premier League and Champions League but need to decide whether to add to their ranks before the January transfer window shuts
Liverpool’s near-perfect season continued on Tuesday night with a victory over Lille, but the high-flyers could yet make additions to solidify their position.
Seven wins from seven in Europe have seen them cruise through to the Champions League round of 16, where they are guaranteed to be one of the top two seeds. Things are going just as swimmingly domestically, with a six-point lead in the Premier League, though they face a battle to get past Spurs and reach the Carabao Cup final.
For much of the season, the big questions have concerned the future of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. In terms of additions, though, there has been noise around a potential long-term successor to Andy Robertson.
Federico Chiesa is the only senior player to join so far this season, with Giorgi Mamardashvili to follow in the summer, but might we see more business in the coming few days? Here are Mirror Football‘s latest lines from around Anfield.
Reds youngster signs first senior deal
Liverpool youngster Alvin Ayman has signed his first professional deal with the club. The midfielder has played twice in the Under-18 Premier League this season, but has yet to make his first-team bow.
The teenager, who qualifies for England and Egypt at international level, joined from Wolves’ academy in the summer of 2024. He was on the bench for the Reds’ opening UEFA Youth League match this term, a goalless draw with AC Milan, when the likes of Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha got minutes.
It isn’t the big contract news some Liverpool fans were after, though, with Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Van Dijk still yet to commit their future to the club. Young goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros is also out of contract in the summer, and could move on with Mamardashvili on his way to Anfield.
Italy boss makes Chiesa claim
Italy manager Luciano Spalletti is keen to see Federico Chiesa play more regular football, and has suggested a return to Serie A could be the answer. Chiesa has struggled to break into the Liverpool side since joining from Juventus, and has been linked with a January loan to Napoli, among other clubs.
Should Federico Chiesa leave Liverpool in January? Have your say in the comments section
Chiesa has 51 senior caps for Italy but hasn’t featured since Euro 2024, and Spalletti indicated he’d be happy to see the 27-year-old back in his home country. “Yes, I would be very much in favour of having Chiesa under our watch in terms of the level of our football, to reintegrate him,” he told Vivo Azzurro TV (via The Echo).
“Those who have this quality of looking you in the eye and breaking the line in front of them to get to the next one… there aren’t many of them. We’re hoping that Chiesa can play with more continuity and that we can see him train and play regularly.”
Diouf responds to Liverpool links
Slavia Prague star El Hadji Malick Diouf insists he needs to make sure the time is right when he makes his next move, amid Liverpool links. The left-back, who can also play on the left of midfield, has impressed for the Czech side since joining from Tromso in January 2024.
“I can see what is happening around me, but I am definitely not distracted by it,” Senegal international Diouf said, according to reports in the Czech media (via Sport Witness). “I am concentrating on myself, on Slavia, I have no reason to rush. I told my uncle, my agent, the same thing. He knows everything.
“And I know that one day I will take the next step. That day is approaching, but I have to be convinced that it is happening at the ideal moment so as not to slow down my development.
“I don’t know if that is true (about Liverpool). Yes, it sounds nice, but would I play for Liverpool? Would I fit in there? For me, it is essential that I don’t stop. It is difficult to move from the substitutes’ bench. I need to play.”
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