So, the January window is wide open and, honestly, it’s feeling a bit like a fever dream for Liverpool fans right now. If you’ve been refreshing your feed every five minutes looking for that "Here We Go" graphic, you’ve probably seen the news about Marc Guehi. It’s a bit of a gut punch. After basically having him through the door last September before Crystal Palace pulled the plug, seeing him head to Manchester City for a cut-price £20 million feels... well, it feels a bit like a horror show, doesn't it?
But look, there’s a lot more moving under the surface at Anfield than just one missed center-back. Arne Slot is in a weird spot. He’s navigating a squad that’s simultaneously world-class and somehow incredibly thin in the worst possible places.
The Defensive Crisis Nobody Expected
Let’s talk about the backline because that’s where the real transfer news football liverpool drama is living. You’ve got Virgil van Dijk, who is still a titan but isn't getting any younger, and then you have a casualty list that looks more like a hospital wing.
Conor Bradley is out for the season. That’s a massive blow. Then there’s Giovanni Leoni, the young prospect who’s been sidelined since his ACL surgery back in September. Slot recently admitted in a press conference that he only has about six fit defenders to choose from. Six. For a team trying to compete on four fronts, that’s living on a knife-edge.
Why Guehi to City Happened (And Why Liverpool Passed)
A lot of people are fuming that FSG didn't just "gazump" City’s bid. £20 million for an England international? It sounds like a no-brainer. But the word from inside the club—specifically via guys like Ian Doyle—is that Liverpool didn't see it as a "market opportunity" this time around.
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The reality? Guehi’s wage demands at City are reportedly hitting the £300,000-a-week mark. Liverpool’s wage structure is tighter than a drum, and they weren’t willing to break it for a player who, while great, might not have been the absolute #1 priority for Slot’s specific tactical setup. It’s annoying, sure, but it’s how they’ve operated for years.
The Names That Actually Matter Now
With Guehi off the table, the focus has shifted. Fast.
If you’re looking for who might actually arrive, keep an eye on these names:
- Nico Schlotterbeck: The Borussia Dortmund man is the one everyone is talking about. Bayern Munich seems to have cooled their interest because of the price tag, which basically leaves the door wide open for Richard Hughes to make a move. He’s left-footed, aggressive, and fits the "Slot-ball" style of building from the back.
- Alessandro Bastoni: This is the "dream" signing. Reports suggest the Inter Milan star might actually be open to a move this year. He’d be expensive, but he’s world-class.
- Givairo Read: A familiar face for Slot from his Feyenoord days. At 19, he’s more of a "one for the future" type, but with Bradley out, he could be an emergency fix at right-back.
- Ousmane Diomande: The Sporting CP kid has a £50m release clause. He’s been on the radar since 2025 and honestly, he looks like the real deal.
The Midfield and Attack: Quiet, But Busy?
It’s not just about the defense. People forget that Liverpool spent a staggering £415 million last summer. Bringing in Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike wasn't cheap.
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The problem is Isak is currently dealing with a fractured fibula. Wirtz is still finding his feet. It’s a bit of a mess.
Then there’s the Mo Salah situation. He’s back from AFCON, which is great, but his contract status is always that low-humming static in the background. Slot seems happy to have him back, but the club is definitely looking at long-term replacements. Names like Michael Olise (who went to Bayern) still haunt the "what if" threads on Twitter, but the search for a creative wide forward is very much ongoing.
What Most People Get Wrong About Slot’s Strategy
There’s this narrative that Slot is "boring" or that he’s too cautious in the market. Paddy Pimblett even came out saying the style of play might lead to a parting of ways.
That’s a bit reactionary, isn't it?
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Slot won the league in his first season with almost no investment. He’s a coach who believes in the training ground. He’s not going to panic-buy a 29-year-old on huge wages just to satisfy a trending hashtag. He wants players who fit his specific "slower," more controlled build-up. If the right player isn't available for the right price, he’d rather play a kid from the academy or move Dominik Szoboszlai to right-back (which he’s actually done recently).
The "Wait and See" Danger
The risk is obvious. If another defender goes down, the season could derail. We saw it in 2020-21 when the "center-back curse" hit.
The recruitment team—Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards—are basically gambling that they can find a "market opportunity" before February 2nd. If they don't, it’s going to be a very long road to May.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Window
If you're following the transfer news football liverpool cycle, here is what you actually need to watch for in the coming days:
- The "Internal Solution" Clues: Watch the lineup for the Burnley game. If we see more of Joe Gomez or even Jeremie Frimpong tucking into weird inverted roles, it tells you Slot is prepping to survive without a new signing.
- The Schlotterbeck Price Drop: If Dortmund suddenly starts being linked with other defenders, it’s a sign they are ready to sell Nico. That’s when Liverpool usually pounces.
- The Outgoings: Keep an eye on the youngsters. James Norris heading to Shelbourne was small fry, but if someone like Calvin Ramsay or a senior fringe player moves, it clears space on the wage bill for a late-window "Special."
The Guehi saga is over, but for Liverpool, the real work is just starting. It might feel quiet right now, but at Anfield, that’s usually when the biggest moves are being cooked up behind closed doors. Don't be surprised if a name we haven't even mentioned yet ends up holding the shirt at the AXA Training Centre by deadline day.