Liverpool's January has been weirdly quiet. If you’ve been refreshing your feed every five minutes expecting a "Here We Go" for a new right-back, you're probably feeling a bit let down. Honestly, looking at the table—14 points behind Arsenal—it feels like Anfield is a house on fire and the fire department is stuck in traffic.
But that’s not the whole story.
The football transfer news Liverpool FC cycle is currently dominated by a massive injury crisis that has basically left Arne Slot with one hand tied behind his back. Conor Bradley is done for the season. Alexander Isak, the marquee summer signing, is out with a fractured fibula. It’s a mess. Yet, while the official "Ins" list is mostly empty except for an 18-year-old from Senegal named Mor Talla Ndiaye, the gears are turning behind the scenes.
The Right-Back Emergency: Frimpong, Ben White, and the Panic Button
When Conor Bradley went down on a stretcher in North London earlier this month, the plan for a quiet January evaporated. Liverpool have been left with exactly six senior defenders. That is a terrifying number for a club still trying to compete in the Champions League and FA Cup.
The name on everyone’s lips is Jeremie Frimpong.
He’s the obvious choice, but he’s basically an auxiliary winger. Would he solve the defensive gaps? Probably not, but he’d give the attack some much-needed oxygen. Then there’s the Ben White rumor. Danny Murphy has been vocal about this one, suggesting the Arsenal man might "force" a move to Merseyside after falling down the pecking order at the Emirates. It sounds like fan-fiction, but in a January window, desperate clubs do desperate things.
The reality is that Liverpool are currently scouting Daniel Banjaqui from Benfica and Monaco's Vanderson. They need a specialist. They need someone who doesn't just fill a gap but actually understands the inverted role Slot demands.
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The Federico Chiesa Dilemma
Let’s talk about Federico Chiesa. It’s been a tough ride for the Italian. 35 appearances since 2024 and only a handful of starts this season. The latest reports from Gazzetta dello Sport suggest he’s actually willing to take a pay cut to go back to Juventus.
That’s a massive blow.
He was supposed to be the bargain of the century at £12.5 million. Instead, he’s spent more time on the treatment table than on the pitch. If Chiesa leaves this month, it leaves the right wing completely exposed, especially with the Mohamed Salah situation reaching a boiling point.
The Salah "Bus" Comment and What it Means
Remember that 3-3 draw with Leeds? The one where Salah sat on the bench for the third game in a row?
He didn't take it well.
The Egyptian King’s rant about being "thrown under the bus" has sent shockwaves through the recruitment team. Even though he signed an extension last April, Saudi Pro League clubs are circling like sharks. Liverpool don't have an orthodox right-winger to replace him. They've tried Cody Gakpo there. They've tried Dominik Szoboszlai. Neither of them look comfortable.
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This is why Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth is the name that won't go away. He has a £65 million release clause that expires on January 10th (oops, missed that one) or potentially a higher valuation now. He has the power and the directness that Slot’s system is currently missing.
Adam Wharton: The Missing Piece?
There is a growing feeling among experts like those at Anfield Index that Liverpool's biggest problem isn't the defense—it's the lack of a "metronome."
Ever since Trent Alexander-Arnold left, the build-up play has been sluggish. Teams have figured out that if you press the center-backs, the whole system collapses. Enter Adam Wharton.
He wasn’t supposed to be a January target. Crystal Palace wanted to keep him until the summer of 2026. But Liverpool are desperate for a specialist defensive midfielder who can actually pass the ball forward. He’s the "ignition point" they’ve lost. If the hierarchy can't get Marc Guéhi—who they notoriously missed out on last summer after he'd already done a medical—they might pivot all their resources toward Wharton.
Current State of the Liverpool Squad (January 2026)
The squad is thin. Dangerously thin.
Up front, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike were supposed to be the new "deadly duo," costing a combined £200 million. But with Isak’s injury, the burden falls on Ekitike and a rotating cast of wingers who don't want to play on the right.
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In defense, Virgil van Dijk is showing signs of a "swift decline," and Ibrahima Konaté is being linked with Real Madrid and PSG as his contract winds down. Stan Collymore even suggested a wild swap deal: Konaté for Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa. It sounds crazy, but when your defensive record is this poor, everything is on the table.
The Internal Friction: Slot vs. Hughes
There’s a bit of drama in the boardroom too. Word is that Richard Hughes and Arne Slot are at odds over Rio Ngumoha. The 17-year-old is a massive talent, and the hierarchy wants him to play. Slot, however, wants a proven winger like Bradley Barcola or Malick Fofana.
It’s the classic Liverpool struggle: "Buy Big" vs. "Trust the Academy."
What Happens Next?
If you're looking for immediate action, keep an eye on the center-back situation. The club has reportedly agreed a deal for Ifeane Ndukwe from Austria Vienna, but he isn't joining until the summer. That doesn't help Slot now.
They need a body in the building before the window shuts.
Expect a late push for a versatile defender who can cover both right-back and center-back. Whether that's Marc Guéhi (finally) or a loan deal for an experienced veteran, something has to give. The silence in the football transfer news Liverpool FC world usually precedes a storm.
Actionable Steps for Fans
- Monitor the Outgoings: If Chiesa’s move to Juventus gathers pace, expect an immediate "panic buy" winger.
- Watch the Injury Updates: If Isak's recovery timeline shifts, Liverpool might look for a short-term loan striker.
- Check the Wage Bill: With Marc Guéhi reportedly asking for £200,000 a week, see if Liverpool are willing to break their wage structure to fix the defense.
The next 14 days will define whether Arne Slot’s first full season ends in silverware or a slide out of the top four. The money is there—they spent £450 million in the summer—but the targets are disappearing fast.