Liverpool’s £315m transfer miss: Failed to sign Salah’s successor before the window shut.
Liverpool missed several transfer targets before completing a couple of late deals to inject some new players into Arne Slot’s squad for his first season. It seemed for a while that Liverpool might end the transfer window without new signings, but securing goalkeeper Georgi Mamardashvili (joining in 2025) and a £12.5 million deal for Federico Chiesa from Juventus eased the board’s concerns.
Despite the lack of new arrivals, the Dutch manager’s tenure has been successful so far. His team’s excellent pre-season form has continued into the Premier League with three consecutive wins, including a 3-0 victory at Manchester United.
However, there were key areas Liverpool wanted to address this summer, including the rejection of Martin Zubimendi and the unsuccessful attempts to sign Anthony Gordon.
Anthony Gordon
Liverpool aimed to sign a new winger with Mohamed Salah’s future uncertain. Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon emerged as a top target, but Newcastle’s need for quick sales made negotiations difficult. Liverpool offered defenders Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez in various swap deals, but Newcastle held firm. Gordon’s price increased to over £80 million, and he remained with Newcastle. He has performed well this season and is reportedly still a future target for Liverpool.
Martin Zubimendi
Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi was a priority for Liverpool, who were willing to meet his £51.5 million release clause. Despite progress in talks, Zubimendi chose to stay in Spain for another year. Liverpool can find some solace in Gravenberch’s strong performances under Slot.
Riccardo Calafiori
Riccardo Calafiori, after a standout Euro 2024, attracted interest from several clubs, including Liverpool. However, he chose Arsenal over Anfield, moving for £42 million. He made his Premier League debut for Arsenal and will play as a left-back.
Arda Guler
Liverpool’s rumored interest in Arda Guler did not gain traction, despite some contact with Real Madrid. The 19-year-old has struggled for game time at Real Madrid and has yet to make an impact this season. Liverpool did not pursue him further despite injuries to Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Liverpool’s search for a world-class winger led them to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but his high price tag of over £100 million made the deal unlikely. Kvaratskhelia hinted at a possible departure from Napoli but is now set to be a key player for Antonio Conte’s squad this Serie A season.