The January transfer window is now officially open, and Liverpool manager Arne Slot could be poised for a crucial month of business. Despite significant summer investments, a mounting injury crisis at both ends of the pitch has increased the pressure for the Reds to act in the winter market.
Defensive Crisis and Attacking Shortage Prompt Action
Liverpool are currently grappling with a severe shortage of defensive options. Injuries to versatile defender Joe Gomez and summer signing Giovanni Leoni, who has been ruled out for the season with an ACL injury, have left the squad dangerously thin at the back. This leaves only Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as the club's recognised fit senior centre-backs.
The problems extend to the forward line as well. The imminent departure of Mohamed Salah for the Africa Cup of Nations, coupled with Alexander Isak's long-term injury, has significantly depleted Slot's attacking resources. These compounding issues have intensified calls for the club to delve into the transfer market this month to bolster the squad for the second half of the season.
Marc Guehi Transfer Boost for Liverpool
In a potential boost for Liverpool, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has publicly admitted uncertainty over the future of captain Marc Guehi. The 25-year-old England centre-back was minutes away from joining Liverpool on deadline day in September in a deal worth £35 million, which collapsed after he had undergone a medical.
With Guehi's contract set to expire at the end of the 2025/26 season and no new deal agreed at Selhurst Park, the situation remains fluid. When repeatedly questioned about Guehi's future, Glasner stated: "I will always tell you the same, as long as I don't know anything else. Believe me, if I knew something, I would tell you. So I don't know what's going on. I don't know what will happen with Marc."
This candid admission from the Palace boss will be viewed positively at Anfield, suggesting a January move for the long-term target could still materialise to address their defensive frailties.
First January Transfer Confirmed as Norris Departs
Liverpool have confirmed their first piece of transfer business this window, with defender James Norris completing a permanent move to League of Ireland side Shelbourne. The 22-year-old Liverpool-born academy graduate, who joined the club at under-9 level, has been on loan with Shelbourne since February.
Norris made just two first-team appearances for his boyhood club. His debut came as a 16-year-old substitute in a Carabao Cup tie against Aston Villa in December 2019, making him the fourth-youngest player in the club's history at the time. His final appearance was a brief cameo in an FA Cup win over Shrewsbury Town in January 2022.
A club spokesperson wished Norris the best for the future. His departure could signal the start of several loan moves for other young talents at the club, with players like Trent Kone-Doherty, Rhys Williams, Kieran Morrison, and Calvin Ramsay all potentially seeking temporary moves for more playing time.
As the window progresses, all eyes will be on whether Arne Slot and the Liverpool hierarchy can secure the reinforcements needed to navigate their current injury crisis and maintain their competitive ambitions.
