Liverpool must agree three deals now transfer window is closed | Football | Sport

With the January transfer window now closed, managers and clubs are left to look at the squads they have been left with. For Liverpool, their big moment of the window came right at the end as they hijacked Chelsea’s move for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet in a £60million deal. The Reds also managed to keep their squad intact with only fringe players leaving.

Liverpool broke the Premier League record for the most money spent in a single transfer window last summer – spending a combined £446m on Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike while smashing the record British transfer fee by paying £125m for Alexander Isak. However, there are a number of key players whose contracts are set to expire soon, and the Reds would be smart to begin negotiations to extend them soon…

It has been well documented that the Frenchman’s current deal at Anfield is set to come to an end this summer. For a long time, it seemed more than likely Real Madrid would rob Arne Slot of another one of his defenders for free – having signed Trent Alexander-Arnold last year.

However, following some poor displays this season, Los Blancos have seemingly withdrawn any interest in signing the former RB Leipzig player – leaving his future uncertain. At 26, Konate is set to enter his prime years imminently and could start for a large number of Europe’s best teams.

After Manchester City snatched England’s Marc Guehi away from them during the January window, Liverpool’s centre-back options aren’t in as strong a position as the club would’ve hoped for. The signing of Jacquet certainly seems to open the door for Konate to move on but keeping him at the club would allow their new signing time to adapt to the Premier League before he has to play week-in, week-out.

The flying Scotsman terrorised Premier League teams tirelessly during the peak of the Jurgen Klopp years – his work ethic embodied what the German wanted his team’s to be. However, at 31 years old, Robertson is no longer the same player he was six years ago and with months left on his Liverpool contract, he has been linked with a move away.

Spurs were reportedly interested in signing the left-back during the January window, but Slot’s side blocked the move as they didn’t want to ‘leave the squad unstable’ and that’s why Liverpool should renew his deal.

Milos Kerkez was meant to be Robertson’s replacement after he arrived from Bournemouth in the summer but that move has not worked out as the Reds had hoped – they still need Robertson until they find a suitable replacement as back-up. Furthermore, losing the personality of the defender in the dressing room, might be even more detrimental to the team.

A boyhood red, Jones has forged himself a path at the club through hard work and has earned his spot as a valuable squad player at Anfield. The recently turned 25-year-old has made over 200 appearances for the club where he has developed playing football at the highest level of the game.

He is consistent and reliable at the heart of the Liverpool midfield and offers games where he shows his class. Every team needs players who are happy not to be the main man and are willing to put the team first – and Jones does that as well as anyone.

With his contract expiring in June 2027, Slot would be smart to secure his future at the club. A boyhood Liverpool supporter, he would happily see out his career at the club and they would be silly to let him leave and have to find a replacement who won’t be as happy filling his role or as good at it.