Liverpool are not the same team as last season. Quite literally. A number of changes have been made ahead of the 2025/26 campaign and perhaps Arn Slott and co may have bitten off more than they can chew as the Merseyside side struggle for fluency and enough form to secure.
Forget the Premier League title. Liverpool are not stable enough and have too many holes across their backline. There was a bit of confusion on defense this year.
liverpool did He signed a centre-half contract last summer. In August, sporting director Richard Hughes signed Parma prospect Giovanni Leoni to a £27 million deal. The Italian is said to be one of the most talented young defenders in the world, but he tore his anterior cruciate ligament on his debut for the Reds.
The 19-year-old will be an important asset upon his return, but Liverpool cannot wait to add strength at the back and are planning ahead of the January transfer window.
Latest on Liverpool’s plans to sign centre-back
Liverpool are in need of a centre-back and defensive mistakes and a lack of safety and composure at the back are at the heart of the Anfield side’s problems.
It was a great summer transfer window, but the failure to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace appears to have dealt a blow to an unbalanced and discordant squad.
If Liverpool are unable to sign Guehi at the end of the season (or in January), FSG are planning to sign Club Brugge star Joel Ordonez, with the 21-year-old Ecuadorian linked with a move to Merseyside last month.
Reports have even highlighted that the Reds are one of the favorites, with talent scout Jacek Kulig even calling Ordonez “a player to watch.”
After all, he rubbed up very cleanly against Virgil van Dijk. That tells us something about the potential of South American players, even if they are playing at a different level.
However, with Liverpool still keen to tie struggling Ibrahima Konate to a new deal and Leoni seemingly good enough to secure a spot, the Reds may be tempted to ignite transfer plans, especially if one of their most exciting up-and-coming talents is secretly secured.
Liverpool already have a future defensive superstar
Liverpool have agreed a deal with Austria Vienna for the transfer of 17-year-old defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe at the end of the season, according to transfer official Ben Jacobs.
The Austrian youth international is an outstanding centre-back with excellent technical ability and has already been described by scout Jacek Kulig as “one of the most exciting young talents” in his home country.
While he is expected to link up with Rob Page’s Under-21 side, Ndukwe has been on the bench a number of times, indicating that Slott is willing to give debuts to young stars.
Youngest debutant for Liverpool under manager Arne Slott | ||
|---|---|---|
player | competition | year |
Ngumoha River | FA Cup | 16 years 04 months old |
Trey Nyoni | carabao cup | 17 years 04 months old |
Trent Cohn-Doherty | FA Cup | 18 years 07 months |
Giovanni Leoni | carabao cup | 18 years 09 months |
Amara Naro | champions league | 18 years 02 months |
Dates via Transfermarkt | ||
The 6-foot-6 prospect, who journalist Bence Boksak praised for his “truly impressive” start to the majors, is blessed with steely agility and natural prowess in the air.
Liverpool do not want to put too much stress on the young talent, but he will not arrive on Merseyside until the summer as he turns 18 in March. And he has the right personality, naming Van Dijk as his idol in an interview with Austrian television in October, adding: “In five years I’ll be playing professionally in the Premier League.”
He seems to be moving quickly on that matter.
It’s probably not out of the question that once he establishes himself in the first team next season, he could leapfrog several players and emulate Leoni, perhaps allowing FSG to forget about the equally unsophisticated talents of Ordonez and perhaps even Guehi.
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Liverpool are in dire need of fresh quality amidst a laborious campaign in Arne Slot’s system.
