Liverpool could complete Arne Slot’s first signing before the transfer window even opens

Liverpool’s 23/24 season is over, Jurgen Klopp’s nine-year reign has come to an end and Arne Slot has been officially confirmed as the Reds’ new head coach.

So what do we do now in the next six weeks before Liverpool turn up for pre-season, with Euro 2024 only providing a slight distraction in the meantime? We turn our attention to the transfer window, of course!

The Premier League confirmed last week that the summer transfer window will open on Friday, June 14, with the deadline later on Friday, August 30. However, the Reds could technically sign a player even before the transfer window opens if they wanted to.

READ MORE: Darwin Nunez warning signs forming and Arne Slot may not get what he wants at Liverpool

READ MORE: Robin van Persie makes Arne Slot Liverpool prediction that will leave Man Utd fans on edge

They have been free to discuss pre-contract deals with overseas players who have not signed this summer as of January 1. In the meantime, they will be free to open discussions with English free agents starting June 1.

Of course, such transfers have been rare at Anfield in recent years. Under Klopp, Liverpool have only signed seven players on free transfers.

Historically, when the Reds move for an off-contract player, it tends to be either a backup goalkeeper or a very talented youngster who would command a compensation fee. Of Klopp’s seven free agent signings since October 2015, Alex Manninger, Adrian and Andy Lonergan ticked the first box, Dominic Solanke, Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho all ticked the latter.

As a result, Joel Matip leaves him as the only big-name Bosman transfer completed under Klopp’s watch, with Liverpool confirming they had signed a pre-contract agreement with the then Schalke defender in February 2016. Meanwhile, you have to go back to the summer of 2015 when brought in James Milner and Adam Bogdan from Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers for the last time, the Reds signed a local free agent.

However, a number of high-profile Bosman signings are anticipated this summer, with Kylian Mbappe the biggest name to move on after agreeing to join Real Madrid when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires. And while Liverpool have long been out of the conversation when it comes to the Frenchman, they have still been linked with a number of other soon-to-be free agents.

In the market for a new centre-back with Matip confirmed to leave at the end of his own deal, the Reds have been linked with both Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo and AFC Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly in recent months.

Of course, the former now looks set to move elsewhere with Daily mail reporting that Adarabioyo is closing in on a deal to join Newcastle United. For the record, they also claim the Magpies are interested in Kelly.

Kelly has been on Liverpool’s radar twice before before his recent links with a move to Merseyside. After catching the eye with Bristol City in the Championship, the Reds wanted to sign the then 20-year-old as Andy Robertson’s deputy in the summer of 2019, only for him to join Bournemouth in a £13m deal. such a price that puts Anfield bosses off.

And the defender was again selected as a potential target 12 months later after the Cherries were relegated. On a four-man shortlist alongside Kostas Tsimikas, Jamal Lewis and Sergio Reguilon, the Reds eventually opted to move for the Greek, with Kelly only their ‘fourth-choice’ target and disregarded following their failed pursuit in 2019.

However, new sporting director Richard Hughes, who joined Liverpool from Bournemouth, knows Kelly well as he played a vital role in bringing the defender to the Vitality Stadium in the first place.

In April 2021 when speaking on the official AFC Bournemouth podcasthe revealed the extent to which the Cherries made the defender before signing him.

“Lloyd Kelly, it wasn’t just his appearances for England Under-21s and the Bristol City first team where I scouted him,” he said. “There’s been a body of work that’s gone into it in younger age groups at Bristol, which gives you the ability to act quicker, I think.

“So when Lloyd comes on and does really well in a championship game, you know that’s always going to happen if you watch him beforehand.”

He is clearly a player Hughes knows well and one that both Liverpool and their new sporting director have done their homework on over the years. He would also be best placed to recommend the Reds defender if he was convinced he could be a successful signing at Anfield – or dissuade them and instead lead a search elsewhere, in as the club weigh up centre-back targets.

Regardless of Liverpool, Adarabioyo and Kelly are free to sign pre-contract agreements from June 1, with their futures currently set to be quickly resolved as a result. But while the Reds moves for either defender seem unlikely despite transfer speculation during the season, they are not the only domestic free agents the club have been linked with.

Slot will likely need to sign a new goalkeeper this summer as well as speculation over the futures of Alisson Becker, Caoimhin Kelleher and Adrian continues.

Alisson is reportedly attracting strong interest from Saudi Arabia, while after five years as the Brazilian’s deputy, it seems unthinkable that second-choice Caoimhin Kelleher will remain at Anfield if the 25-year-old stays like just back…up.

While a move for the Brazilian would open the door for the Republic of Ireland international to become Liverpool’s new number one, at this point you’d suspect Kelleher is more likely to move on in search of first-team football than Alisson. .

Elsewhere, veteran third-choice Adrian has already hinted that while he has not held talks with the Reds about his future, he expects to move on at the end of his contract this summer, with the 37-year-old eyeing a return . In Spain. However, it was not actually confirmed that the Spaniard would leave Liverpool along with future Bosmans Matip and Thiago Alcantara last week, with his future still uncertain.

Either way, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Reds made one, if not two, of their senior goalkeepers this summer. And while the likes of Vítezslav Jaros could try to force his way to Anfield after a successful loan spell at Sturm Graz, should he not be looking for another exit, the arrival of a new goalkeeper at Anfield this summer seems logical.

Liverpool have already been linked with several stoppers. Reports from the Netherlands suggest they could be interested in Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow, while Daily Mail claimed earlier this month that they are monitoring Southampton veteran Alex McCarthy as they draw up a shortlist of back-up goalkeepers.

The one-time England international has finished the Saints season strongly since regaining his place at the expense of the injured Gavin Bazunu and is looking to win promotion back to the Premier League via the play-offs with the South Coast club.

However, out of contract in the summer, the 34-year-old could prove an attractive option for Premier League sides chasing a back-up goalkeeper, given both of McCarthy’s origins – when he comes it’s about naming 25-man squads for domestic and European competition – and potential free agent status. As a result, if Adrian leaves, he would be a possible replacement.

Newcastle United – them again – are also said to be interested in the stopper, while Celtic, managed by former Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, are said to be considering McCarthy as they take considered to replace the recently retired Joe Hart. Coincidentally, Kelleher has also been linked with a move to the Hoops in recent months.

Liverpool have been interested in signing McCarthy before with Rodgers as manager when the Reds made a move for the goalkeeper in 2014.

The pair had worked together at Reading and were set to reunite at Anfield, only for McCarthy to end up turning down Liverpool’s advances after an 11am phone call from Harry Redknapp, then manager of Queens Park Rangers, when he was on the point to board a train to Merseyside. .

But after 10 years and in the market for a back-up goalkeeper, it appears the Reds could be set to rekindle interest in the veteran shot-stopper.

And while his future is unlikely to be decided until after Sunday’s Championship play-off final, if Liverpool are to move for McCarthy, they could sign a pre-contract agreement from June 1 to make him their first signing Slot before the transfer window. it actually opens.