Liverpool transfer news: What business can the Reds still do on Deadline Day?

The transfer window shuts at 23:00 GMT on Thursday, 1 February, with the chances of Liverpool making a signing ticking down.

In truth the January window was always going to be a quiet one for the Reds, with Jurgen Klopp stressing on multiple occasions that the club aren't actively in the market for new arrivals.

With Klopp and Jorg Schmadtke on their way out, the Liverpool hierarchy clearly have other priorities right now, while the first-team — despite some injury issues — is in great shape, with several youngsters such as Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah stepping up this season to help keep the Reds top of the table and fighting on four fronts.

There had, however, been inklings that Liverpool might push for another defender, if the opportunity arose, in order to ease the burden after Joel Matip after the 32-year-old's season-ending injury.

With the deadline fast approaching, here's a rundown of what might still happen before 23:00 GMT.

Incomings

While you can never rule anything out for sure until it's over, it appears as though (somewhat surprisingly) this will be the first year since 2019 that the Reds have not made a mid-season signing — Cody Gakpo (2023), Luis Diaz (2022), Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak (2021) and Takumi Minamino (2020).

Klopp recently talked up the development of academy talents Quansah and Bradley as reasons why Liverpool have not needed to enter the market for more defensive depth, with the duo enjoying breakthrough seasons.

However, Anfield Watch understands that Liverpool did make enquiries about Bayer Leverkusen's left-sided defender Piero Hincapie to see whether a January deal would've been possible.

With the German side chasing a first-ever Bundesliga title, the suggestion of a mid-season move was dismissed out of hand, though the Ecuador international remains an option for the summer.

The start of the new year also marked the final six months of Kylian Mbappe's contract at Paris Saint-Germain, meaning he is now free to negotiate a summer agreement with overseas suitors.

Liverpool remain linked with the 25-year-old superstar but a deal appears incredibly unlikely due to the finances involved.

All in all, expect a grand total of zero arrivals on Deadline Day, unless the club pull off something truly unexpected as a cheeky plot twist for the newly confirmed documentary series.

Outgoings

The January window saw five Liverpool players return from loans spells only to leave for the rest of the season once again — Fabio Carvalho (Hull), Calvin Ramsay (Bolton), Rhys Williams (Port Vale), Nat Phillips (Cardiff) and Owen Beck (Dundee).

There have been suggestions that youngsters Bobby Clark — who featured in the 4-1 win over Chelsea on Wednesday night — and Under-21s striker Lewis Koumas could also head out on loan this month, but the chances of a deal being struck for either player in the final hours of the window are slim.

Thiago Alcantara, who is back in training once again, is able to discuss terms with suitors, with his contract running down, but there is no suggestion that he could leave before the summer.

One player we definitely don't have to worry about on Deadline Day is Mohamed Salah.

While his long-term future remains the subject of much speculation amid continued interest from Saudi Arabia, the Pro League's transfer deadline already passed on 30 January, meaning there's zero chance of any potentially destabilising eleventh-hour bids for Liverpool's top scorer.

After Deadline Day

While the window slams shut on Thursday, the planning continues all year round.

However, before putting in place fixed plans for major summer arrivals, Liverpool's FSG owners and the existing club hierarchy will be focussed on finding replacements for Klopp (and his departing backroom staff), as well as a new sporting director.

A host of names have been linked for both roles, with the eventual appointees set to become pivotal in shaping the club philosophy, squad planning and recruitment strategy in the new post-Klopp era.

As if that wasn't enough to deal with, there is not the inconsiderable matter of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Salah all having just 18 months left on their current contracts. Plans will need to be made to deal with the key men's futures.

In terms of known transfer targets beyond the January window, Liverpool are set to strengthen at the back with a host of defenders already linked.

Anfield Watch understands that, along with Hincapie, the Reds maintain an interest in the likes of Ko Itakura (Borussia Monchengladbach) and Goncalo Inacio (Sporting CP), while midfielder Morten Frendrup (Genoa) and attacker Crysencio Summervilla (Leeds) are also players who have been monitored.

Other recent reports have claimed the Reds could move for defenders Tosin Adarbioyo (Fulham) and Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth), whose contracts expire this summer.

However, once again, more clarity over transfer targets is likely to only come after developments in the appointments of the non-playing staff.