What transfers could Liverpool still make before Deadline Day?

There is now just over a week left until the transfer deadline passes and Liverpool will be stuck with their squad until January.

Once famous for getting their business done early, the Reds still have a concerning amount of work to do in the final few days of this window.

Alexis Mac Allister's £35m arrival from Brighton started the summer off with a bang, while Dominik Szoboszlai's addition at £60m was another piece of the much-discussed midfield rebuild.

Since then, however, things went a little off track. Unexpected departures for Fabinho and Jordan Henderson shifted the focus onto the need for defensive midfielders, but the very public failures to land either one of Romeo Lavia or Moises Caicedo have left the club's recruitment chiefs with egg on their faces, while showing their hand to other selling clubs.

30-year-old Wataru Endo, Liverpool's third summer arrival – while necessary positionally – seemed a somewhat left-field choice and a little anti-climactic after the big-money names touted before him. Time will tell whether his signing is more Milner than Arthur, but, regardless, he is far from the final piece of the puzzle.

Jurgen Klopp's side that has shown defensive frailties in pre-season and across the opening two Premier League outings, and the talk is that the club is still exploring options in multiple positions.

So, how do Liverpool end the window from here?

Versatile midfielder

It was reported earlier this week that Liverpool are no longer looking at pure 'number six' options this window, with Endo and Stefan Bajcetic expected to compete for the defensive midfield berth.

Instead, the Reds are after at least one more 'multi-functional midfielder'.

One such Swiss Army Knife player to arrive before 1 September could be Andre Trindade. The €25m-valued Fluminense number seven is one of Brazil's hottest prospects and has been a known Liverpool target for some weeks.

The problem is that Fluminense don't want to sell while their Copa Libertadores campaign is ongoing and a sale may have to wait until January.

Elsewhere, the Reds have been linked with Ryan Gravenberch. The 21-year-old is little loved at Bayern Munich and reportedly keen on a move. Manchester United are also interested in the midfielder who can play as a 'number six' or 'number eight', but it all comes down to whether the Bundesliga champions will be willing to sanction a move for a prospect they only signed a year ago.

Another option on the table is Cheick Doucoure. Crystal Palace's Player of the Year 2022/23 is much more of a ball winner, but has been used more progressively in his career at Lens. There have been reports that the Reds are in talks with Palace, but Roy Hodgson's side may demand an exorbitant fee having seen the likes of Lavia, Caicedo and Rice go for big money. There has been talk of a £60-70m price tag.

Other names in the frame at various points this summer are Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Manu Kone (Borussia Monchengladbach) and Khephren Thuram (Nice).

However, Phillips is unlikely to be sold to a rival and has a patchy fitness record, Kone is currently recovering from an injury and Thuram has been dismissed by some as too expensive. As with Endo, it is entirely possible that if Liverpool do make another midfield signing, it could be someone yet to be reported on.

Left-sided centre back

The other key position Liverpool are known to want to strengthen is at centre-back. Specifically, Klopp and the transfer committee are after a left-sided option who can function in their new system which sees Trent Alexander-Arnold drift into midfield.

One report earlier this summer claimed the Reds' preference is for a younger, 'project' option who could grow into the role without demanding immediate game time.

It was also speculated that the club could wait until next summer – when Joel Matip will be out of contract – to make the signing, if the right option is not available currently.

However, having put up £100m+ for Caicedo, the money is clearly there, if Liverpool want to do a deal.

Less has been reported about Liverpool's defensive targets, but some names in the frame include Goncalo Inacio (Sporting CP), Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen), Perr Schuurs (Torino) and Arthur Theate (Rennes). However, there is little concrete in the links to any of them.

Josko Gvardiol and Levi Colwill were both touted earlier in the summer before the former joined Manchester City and the latter opted to sign a new long-term contract with Chelsea. Micky van de Ven was another name mentioned before interest was dropped and the 22-year-old signed for Tottenham.

Perhaps even more so than with the midfield targets, expect the unexpected.

Wildcard?

Could Liverpool spring a surprise and sign a player in a totally different position to those mentioned before the close of the window? It seems highly unlikely.

While both Roberto Firmino and Fabio Carvalho departed this summer, Liverpool already have strong attacking options having signed Cody Gakpo in January. Additionally, Ben Doak appears a top prospect destined for more game time.

The full back and attacking midfield positions are also well-stocked.

The one other area Liverpool could be forced to enter the market for is at goalkeeper, but only if Caoimhin Kellher leaves, which appears increasingly unlikely at this late stage of the window.

Outgoings

There are also still a handful of players that could yet be sold or loaned out before the close of the window.

Kelleher was talked up as wanting first-team football earlier in the year but stories of interested clubs have been few and far between. He now looks set to stay and deputise for Alisson Becker for at least one more year.

Defender Nat Phillips has been expected to leave all summer, with links to Leeds United as well as from abroad, and he appears the most likely senior player to depart before 1 September.

Meanwhile, academy left back Luke Chambers remains a target for Bayer Leverkusen, who are managed by Xabi Alonso.

Jarell Quansah, too, could well go out on loan again having spent part of last season at Blackburn Rovers, but is not yet clear where. If both Quansah and Phillips are allowed to depart, the need for defensive depth will be even greater for Klopp.

Tyler Morton is still recovering from injury, but impressed on loan at Blackburn Rovers in 2022/23. It's unclear what part he will play for Liverpool, amid the midfield rebuild. At 20 and with Championship experience under his belt, he seems too good to drop back down to the academy.

Finally, Thiago Alcantara is the one big name with a question mark over his future. The 32-year-old has one year left on his contract and looks set to sit it out as a bit-parter when fit. However, Anfield Watch has reported that Liverpool are open to the right offer for the former Bayern Munich star.