10 possible transfer targets for Liverpool in summer 2023

The 2022/23 season clearly has not gone to plan for Liverpool. As the Reds head into their 30th match of the season, they sit eighth in the Premier League behind both Aston Villa and Brighton in the battle for the Europa League and Conference League positions,

It is a profoundly disappointing position for the 2018/19 Champions League winners to be in, as they were in the Final of the most prestigious competition in European football just last season. Now, they are faced with the extremely likely prospect of not being in the 2023/24 Champions League – and with the very real prospect of no European football at all.

Already, the conversation is shifting to the summer transfer window, as Jürgen Klopp, regardless of his lukewarm statements to the media, desperately needs his squad to be refreshed.

Here are 10 possible transfer targets for Liverpool in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Chelsea AM Mason Mount

Perhaps no player has been more frequently linked to Liverpool than Mason Mount, whose contract will run out at the end of the 2023/24 season, putting pressure on Chelsea to sell. Mount has been a disappointment on an even more disappointing team than Liverpool, but in the previous two seasons, the England international was one of the most productive players in the Premier League.

Honestly, there may be more cons than pros to acquiring Mount, but he is a proven Premier League playmaker who can produce end product from nothing. His talent is tough to question, even if his fit is.

Fulham DM João Palhinha

A potential dream target within the Premier League, João Palhinha is having an excellent season for a Fulham side that has surprisingly flirted with the prospect of European football next season. Though the Cottagers are now in a more realistic 10th place, that does not make Palhinha’s season any less impressive.

The talented Portuguese international has been among the best ball-winners in the English top flight. He is averaging an astounding four tackles per game with 1.3 interceptions per match, placing him among the best defensive midfielders in Europe this season. Liverpool really need an active defensive presence in midfield, given how disappointing Fabinho has been this season.

Nice DM Khéphren Thuram

An even more talented defensive midfielder lies in Ligue 1. Though Khéphren Thuram hasn’t been as prolific as Palhinha, the young Nice standout may have more upside. Clubs like PSG and Real Madrid have been monitoring the 22-year-old, who has the defensive activity Liverpool require in midfield along with the technical standard to be an upgrade on Fabinho both in the short and the long term. Thuram has two goals and four assists this season despite also winning 2.6 combined tackles and interceptions per match.

Celta Vigo CM Gabri Veiga

Virtually every top club in European football is watching Gabri Veiga, who has been one of the most exciting breakout stars on the entire planet. Without Veiga, Celta Vigo could be deep in the relegation battle instead of in the top half of the table, as the club recovered its form around the time Veiga started banging home the goals rapidly.

Veiga, just 20 years old, has nine goals and four assists for the historic LaLiga side, combining well with Spanish footballing legend Iago Aspas. A Spanish international himself, Veiga has added progression and ball-winning to the midfield, though he is truly a standout at joining the attack and reading the game, intervening to bang home some great goals. Liverpool really do need more end product from the midfield and should sign multiple midfielders, so adding Veiga with a defensive option makes sense.

Eintracht Frankfurt CB Evan N’Dicka

Though Liverpool should not be desperate for a center back, it is time for the club to wave goodbye to a legendary figure in Joël Matip. With that departure, the Reds should bring in a quality option to give Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté some relief. Van Dijk could use it, as he’s been under the weather this season.

Evan N’Dicka is an impending free agent with a long list of interested clubs. The Eintracht Frankfurt center back has intriguing attributes when it comes to helping the attack and has been one of the league’s best defenders since breaking out in 2018/19. There are better options than N’Dicka, but he is a solid, economic option.

Bayern München CM Ryan Gravenberch

A potential wild card in the midfield, Ryan Gravenberch joined Bayern München from Ajax last season. Despite what his father said about Bayern being a better place for his son to get minutes than Real Madrid and PSG, the young Dutch standout has gone the way of Renato Sanches. He has been an afterthought from the bench.

Although the patient approach should pay off in a Bayern midfield with questionable depth and an underperforming Leon Goretzka, Gravenberch may not want to wait and see if Thomas Tuchel will give him more playing time. A summer transfer is unlikely but not impossible, and Liverpool are already actively monitoring the situation.

Fiorentina DM Sofyan Amrabat

Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat made himself something approaching a household name at the World Cup for surprise side Morocco, establishing himself as their best player of the tournament with his hard-nosed defensive covering and intelligent reading of the game. But Fiorentina fans will point out that Amrabat has been important to the Viola long before that match.

If Liverpool want to sign someone who will cover a ton of ground and vastly upgrade their defensive covering, relieving pressure off the overworked back four, then Amrabat would make a ton of sense. He may seem like a wild card, given Fiorentina haven’t been particularly great this season, but he is very much a top option in the defensive midfield.

Brighton CM Alexis Mac Allister

One last option within the Premier League, Alexis Mac Allister is another player who made a huge name for himself on the world stage this winger for Argentina, hoisting the trophy in the end as an important part of the side. Maybe more importantly to the Liverpool faithful, Mac Allister has been even more vital to Brighton’s success in 2022/23, shining with eight goals and an all-around midfield impact for the team occupying a Conference League place. Mac Allister should have plenty of interest from around the English top flight, but he is a realistic midfield option for Liverpool who can offer progression, defensive effort, and plenty of end product.

Borussia Mönchengladbach CF Marcus Thuram

After signing Cody Gakpo in the winter and Darwin Núñez in the summer, Liverpool have added two promising forwards who can occupy the 9 spot. But with Roberto Firmino set to leave this summer, Liverpool may want a truer 9 than Gakpo and a more well-rounded provider than Núñez to compete. Liverpool’s midfield and defense have been suspect this season, but with 20 fewer goals scored than both teams competing for the Premier League title, the Reds could use one more forward.

An upcoming free agent, Marcus Thuram has been one of the Bundesliga’s best over the past few seasons since joining from Guingamp, making him an affordable option to add quality to the attacking third. Thuram is so unselfish and intelligent, working well with Alassane Pléa up top – the end of that partnership will cause some German football fans to shed a tear. But Thuram is ready for another big step in his career. With 13 goals and 4 assists this season, the 25-year-old has the quality to play for Liverpool.

Wolfsburg CB Micky van de Ven

Finally, there is another center back option from the Bundesliga for Liverpool in Wolfsburg’s Micky van de Ven. He has broken out this year and intrigued clubs around Europe, with the Reds being one possible destination for the versatile 21-year-old.

Van de Ven has made a few starts at left back but is primarily a central defender. He has the upside and athletic traits to develop into a Liverpool-caliber starter after filling in behind van Dijk and Konaté initially. The young defender is more than capable on the ball and is one of the better Bundesliga center backs in one-on-ones.