MO Salah successor to No.1 target – Liverpool’s £315million transfer misses before window shut

Liverpool left it late this summer to begin their transfer business, and they missed out on some big targets as Arne Slot’s first campaign in charge at Anfield got underway

Slot faced rejection in the transfer market before his stunning start to the Liverpool both missed out on and passed up rtunity to sign several transfer targets before sealing a pair of late deals to give Arne Slot at least some fresh blood in his squad for his debut season.

It looked for some time that the Reds would go without making a single signing as the summer transfer window wound down. But sealing a deal for goalkeeper Georgi Mamardashvili – who will join the club in 2025 – and statement £12.5million signing Federico Chiesa from Juventus saw the squad added to before the deadline.

The lack of new players hasn’t hindered the Dutch manager’s tenure so far, though. His team’s impeccable pre-season form has carried over to the Premier League, where they have won three on the bounce, including an impressive 3-0 win at Manchester United.

However, there were some voids the club had wished to fill this summer, and Mirror Football looks at deals the Reds failed to complete and the opportunities they passed up.

Anthony Gordon

One of Liverpool’s intents early in the window was evidently to recruit a new winger, with Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield in doubt as he enters the last year of his current deal.

Newcastle star Gordon emerged as a leading name, after his club struggled to meet the Premier League profit and sustainability rules deadline and were in need of some fast sales.

Gordon was the subject of Liverpool

Liverpool sensed a chance to exploit those issues, with defenders Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez reportedly discussed in potential swap deals as Newcastle mulled over a deal

However, the Magpies decided to hold on to Gordon and balanced their books elsewhere and as quickly as the Reds’ interest started, it was quashed. Gordon no longer needed to be sold, and so the Englishman’s price was raised – with an £80m-plus offer demanded – and the 23-year-old stayed put.

Ex-Everton man Gordon continues to star for Newcastle this season, having scored a single goal in their opening three fixtures, but reportedly remains a Liverpool target for the future and is a boyhood fan of the club.

Martin Zubimendi

Real Sociedad’s versatile defensive midfielder Zubimendi was uncovered as one of Slot’s transfer priorities this window, when it was revealed that the club was willing to meet the Spaniard’s £51.5m release clause.

With Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo to act as holding players, Zubimendi would have provided competition for the role and might have become a first-team regular..

Zubimendi rejected Liverpool

Yet, despite talks having progressed and it seeming like the club would make its first summer signing, Zubimendi snubbed the Merseyside outfit, choosing to remain in Spain for at least another year.

Liverpool can take some satisfaction from the fact that Gravenberch has taken to playing under Slot well and looks to have the position nailed down, especially after his performance against United.

Riccardo Calafiori

As well as the concrete interest in Gordon and Zubimendi there were a number of other options Liverpool could have pursued this summer. With Riccardo Calafiori becoming one of them after he earned himself a range of suitors across Europe, primarily in the Premier League.

Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool were all linked to the 22-year-old to varying degrees, with the Reds seeking a promising centre-half to perhaps take over from Virgil van Dijk, whose contract expires next summer as he turns 34.

Calafiori chose a different Premier League club

Arsenal were always Calafiori’s main suitors though, and he eventually made the £42m switch to the Emirates to sign for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners. He made his Premier League debut in the club’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa and will be preferred as a left-back under Arteta, having to compete with Jurrien Timber and Oleksandr Zinchenko in the position.

Arda Guler

Liverpool’s rumoured pursuit of Turkish wonderkid Arda Guler never gained momentum this summer, but some reports suggested that the club made contact with Real Madrid about signing him.

The 19-year-old creative forward only arrived in the Spanish capital in 2023 but found first-team minutes hard to come by, given the breadth of talent at Carlo Ancelotti’s disposal.

Guler was rumoured to have piqued the Reds’

With him starring for his country at Euro 2024, rumours arose that he would prefer to leave the Bernabeu and that Slot’s side would renew the interest reportedly held in the star – who is currently valued at £40m, according to Transfermarkt – before he made his move last summer.

Guler has yet to feature prominently at Real Madrid this season after it became apparent no Anfield move would occur, despite injuries to Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Liverpool’s search for a world-class winger would have inevitably led them to look at Napoli superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who would have made an incredible splash had he landed at Anfield this summer.

A deal for the skilful Georgian was never entirely on the cards, despite reports suggesting the club were preparing to make a sensational bid for Kvaratskhelia, primarily due to his jaw-dropping price – rumoured to be in excess of £100m.

Kvaratskhelia is staying put this

Kvaratskhelia had revealed that his leaving Napoli could be a possibility – considering they missed out on Champions League football – and vowed to make a decision after Euro 2024.

Alas, it became apparent that, apart from the mooted PSG, few clubs, if any, could afford the winger. Antonio Conte has now been promised that Kvaratskhelia will be a pivotal part of his squad ahead of this Serie A season.

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