Everything feels a bit off at Anfield right now. One minute you're the reigning Premier League champions, and the next, you're sitting in fourth, watching Arsenal pull 14 points clear while your squad depth evaporates faster than a puddle in the Mersey sun. Honestly, the mood around the current lfc football transfer rumours is less about "who are we buying to win the quadruple?" and more about "how do we stop the bleeding?"
It’s January 2026. The winter window is halfway through, and the vibes are, frankly, immaculate only if you enjoy high-stakes drama and medical bulletins.
The defensive crisis and the Marc Guéhi obsession
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the backline. It’s a mess. Conor Bradley is out for the season after that horrific knee injury, and Alexander Isak—who we still sometimes forget is a Red—is sidelined with a fractured leg. But the real headache is in the middle of the park. Or rather, the lack of bodies there.
Ibrahima Konaté is basically living a nightmare. Arne Slot didn’t mince words after that 3-3 draw at Elland Road, saying the Frenchman was "present too much at the crime scene." Ouch. With Konaté’s contract expiring this summer and zero signs of a breakthrough, the rumours are flying. Real Madrid and PSG are always lurking, though his current form might actually be the only thing keeping them at bay.
Stan Collymore has been loud about a potential swap deal with Aston Villa for Ezri Konsa. It sounds like one of those FIFA transfers that never happens in real life, but with Villa facing their own PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) headaches, maybe it’s not as crazy as it sounds? Konsa is reliable. Konaté, right now, is a liability.
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Then there’s Marc Guéhi. The man who almost signed last summer. He even did the medical! Then Crystal Palace pulled the plug at the eleventh hour. Now, reports suggest his price tag has dipped below £35m because his contract is ticking down. Liverpool need him. Man City want him. It’s a straight-up bidding war, and Richard Hughes cannot afford to lose this one like he did last August.
What's actually happening with Mohamed Salah?
You’ve probably seen the headlines. Salah isn’t just at the Africa Cup of Nations; he’s also reportedly fuming. That outburst after the Leeds game—where he called out the club for "throwing him under the bus" after being left on the bench—has changed everything.
Even though he signed a two-year extension last April, the Saudi Pro League hasn't stopped calling. If he leaves, who fills those massive boots?
- Antoine Semenyo: The Bournemouth man has a £65m release clause that expires on January 10 (wait, that’s passed—did we miss it?).
- Rodrygo: Fabrizio Romano says he’s the primary target if Salah walks. He’s 24, versatile, and apparently not Xabi Alonso's favourite person at Real Madrid right now.
- Yan Diomande: The RB Leipzig kid is the "new" name on the block. He’s young, fast, and has openly flirted with a move to Anfield.
The reality? Liverpool don't have another natural right-winger. Federico Chiesa has been a ghost, making only 35 appearances since 2024. Juventus are reportedly trying to lowball a move to take him back to Italy on loan. Honestly, at this point, letting him go might just be mercy for everyone involved.
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The midfield "ghost" and the Wirtz factor
We have to mention Florian Wirtz. The £116m deal was a statement, but he "doesn't care" about the noise, according to some reports. He’s here, but the midfield still feels light because Alexis Mac Allister is running on fumes.
The recruitment team is looking at Carlos Baleba from Brighton and Angelo Stiller at Stuttgart. They aren't "sexy" names, but they are the functional No. 6 types that keep a team from collapsing. We've seen what happens when we rely too much on Gravenberch to do everything. He needs a partner who actually likes defending.
Breaking down the current squad gaps:
- Right-Back: With Bradley out, we are down to Joe Gomez or moving Szoboszlai into a "makeshift" role. Neither is ideal.
- Centre-Back: Virgil van Dijk is 35 this year. He’s still the king, but even kings get tired.
- The "Klopp" factor: Seeing Jurgen Klopp linked with the Real Madrid job to replace Xabi Alonso is a weird twist of fate, isn't it? It doesn't affect the squad directly, but it adds to the general "end of an era" feeling hanging over the AXA Training Centre.
Why the Marc Guéhi deal is the "must-win" of January
If Liverpool finish this window without a senior centre-back, they are essentially waving the white flag on the title.
The club has already signed youngsters like Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe for the future. That’s great for 2028. It does nothing for a cold Tuesday night in February when you need someone to win a header against a physical striker.
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The lfc football transfer rumours regarding Murillo from Forest seem to have cooled as he heads to Milan, which leaves Guéhi as the only logical, Premier League-proven option left on the board.
Practical steps for the rest of the window
If you're following the news daily, keep an eye on these three specific triggers. First, watch for any movement on Federico Chiesa's exit; a loan move back to Serie A would free up the wages needed for a late attacking swoop. Second, monitor the Crystal Palace team sheets. If Guéhi is suddenly "rested" or "nursing a minor knock," the deal is likely moving behind the scenes. Finally, don't expect a replacement for Conor Bradley. The club's internal stance is that they will internalize that cover using Gomez and Frimpong rather than spending unnecessarily.
For the most reliable updates, stick to the "Big Three" of Tier 1 news: James Pearce, Paul Joyce, and the occasional "Here We Go" from Romano. Everything else is mostly noise designed to keep the fans on edge during a particularly stressful winter on Merseyside.