Liverpool Transfer Window 2025: Heavy Attack, Defensive Doubts
Liverpool signed Bradley Barcola from PSG for £123m, but defensive depth and the lack of a defensive midfielder remain major concerns at the start of the season.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Liverpool spent nearly £200m net this summer, highlighted by Bradley Barcola's £123m arrival from PSG.
- Key senior players such as Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate left the club on free transfers.
- The squad faces significant concerns regarding defensive depth and the lack of a true holding midfielder.
- Ronald Araujo joined on loan with a £47m buy option to provide a temporary defensive fix.
During this summer transfer window, Liverpool under Andoni Iraola faced lingering questions despite aggressive squad remodeling, with senior figures admitting the window did not match the spending of the previous summer when Arne Slot's side splashed a then-record £415m and broke the British transfer record twice for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
Offsetting last summer's £188m player sales—including Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Jarell Quansah—left the club with a £227m net spend. Factoring in Jeremy Jacquet's deal agreed in January, Liverpool's net spend this summer sits just under £200m after acquiring Victor Munoz, loaning Ronald Araujo, and signing Bradley Barcola for a combined £217.5m.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
However, the club lost core figures as Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate departed for free, while Curtis Jones moved to Inter Milan for £30m. Liverpool also rejected an £80m bid from Manchester City for Cody Gakpo as they failed to secure an immediate replacement.
Based on their opening two Premier League fixtures, there is a clear perception that Liverpool left themselves short following last season's struggles. The primary concern centers on squad depth at the back and the absence of a specialist defensive midfielder, though Iraola's squad secured one of the summer's biggest signings in French forward Barcola, who chose the Reds over interest from Arsenal and others.
Liverpool's hybrid recruitment strategy—balancing big-money young stars with experienced short-term loans—highlights the club's transition following the turbulent post-Slot period. Planning ahead for expiring contracts like Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker shows strategic foresight, though immediate tactical balance in defensive midfield and backline depth remains Iraola's most pressing challenge.
"His old team has needed a defensive midfielder for three years."
Daniel Sturridge
Defensive vulnerabilities were underscored after Liverpool conceded twice in both league matches so far. Long-term injuries to Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, compounded by Joe Gomez's pre-season knock, forced the club to bring in 27-year-old Uruguayan Araujo from Barcelona as a stop-gap with a £47m purchase option for next summer, aligning with the expiration of Virgil van Dijk's contract.
Source: BBC Sport
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