Dream Liverpool team in 2026: Trent Alexander-Arnold decision ,Virgil van Dijk signed

Liverpool have a lot of work to do this summer, but the transfer matters to be completed won’t end there. Jurgen Klopp still has a few big years ahead of him.

Liverpool have a lot to think about during the summer transfer window, but these times are never isolated. For example, if the Reds were to sign a defender this summer, it would be before the likely departure of Joël Matip in 2024.

Similarly, the types of midfielders arriving this summer should factor in long-term thinking, with Jordan Henderson and Thiago not rejuvenating with the latter losing his contract in 12 months.

With Jurgen Klopp linked to a new contract until 2026, the German will be the leitmotif of the next transition period at Anfield, with Liverpool continuing to plan for the future.

Looking at 2026 as the point in time, we’re sure Klopp will be in the lead until—and hopefully beyond if he so desires—what other big decisions lie in wait for the next two seasons?

Thiago and Matip could leave next summer, as mentioned, unless one of the two gets an extension, and next year there are several big names on the verge of an extension.

Henderson, who will turn 35 in 2025, will therefore be out of contract, as will Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kostas Tsimikas and Mohamed Salah.

Alexander-Arnold will obviously receive a new contract and could even become captain at that point (if he hasn’t become a full-time midfielder by then, the captaincy role seems even more defined at some point).

Meanwhile, Van Dijk turns 34 this summer – he’s still young enough to be a defender, but he should probably reduce his workload by then. At that point, it will be necessary to find a successor at the beginning of the transition.

Salah is the other big name on that descendant list, with a big decision looming near the end of next season as to what to do with him. It took a long time to accept his previous extension and Liverpool don’t want another story.

He’s turning 33, but he’s still showing no signs of letting up. But like Van Dijk, in 2026 it will be necessary to find a player who can eventually replace the Egyptian, so at least the transition period could have begun.

Fabinho, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté will all be eligible for contracts by 2026. The Brazilian has already shown some shaky signs in terms of fitness last season, while Robertson will be 32. Konaté will be 27 years old and in his prime.

In short, once the reconstruction of the midfield has been arranged, more important decisions will have to be made later. Alisson Becker will turn 33 in 2026 and is under contract until next year, but plenty of other big calls loom.

Alexis Mac Allister will be just 27, Curtis Jones 25 and Harvey Elliott 23. Stefan Bajčetić will be just 21 and Ben Doak will somehow be just 20. Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo will be 27 that summer, but Diogo Jota and Luis Díaz will approaches 30 years.

Most of the squad are young enough now that they are still good options to go three years from now, but key players like Van Dijk and Salah will need more management and replacements lined up early.

There will be plenty of transfer activity at Liverpool this summer, but in the short term it will be necessary to be more proactive and stay one step ahead before such drastic action is needed to replace the most irreplaceable stars.

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Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone, along with other transfer targets, have access to the Liverpool jersey numbers.

Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone are controlled by Jurgen Klopp and his recruiting team

Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone remain in the spotlight and it could still take a few weeks for Liverpool’s two summer goals.

Having kicked off their recruitment campaign by signing Alexis Mac Allister on a free transfer, the Reds want at least one more midfielder to bolster their squad for the 2023/24 season.

Thuram and Kone are under scrutiny as Jurgen Klopp and his recruiting team pursue a younger profile for their next signing.

For those unfamiliar with the two French starlets, or Ryan Gravenberch and Gabri Veiga, there is a chance to see them do their job this summer at the ongoing European Under-21 Championships taking place in Romania and Georgia. The tournament lasts until mid-July.

Thuram and Kone came on for Les Bleus on Thursday night as they headed to a controversial 2-1 win against Italy, which saw VAR – and for once a lack of such technology – take center stage in the dying minutes .

As long as they had no connection to the Italian team, the most important thing for the Liverpool fans who watched the action via the UEFA website was the performance of Thuram and Kone. Overall, Kone was fantastic while Thuram showed one or two nice glimpses of his undisputed talent.

Of course, he’s sparked debate about their respective futures, and one look at social media was enough to show just how high they both stand on the red side of this famous footballing city. However, with a golden opportunity to showcase themselves, there will be no shortage of other candidates.

However, should the Reds sign either or both, there are some tempting squad numbers available to snap up their proposed arrivals at Anfield, even after Mac Allister landed the vacant number 10 which was not allocated by the club after Sadio Mane joined Bayern Munich.

Outgoing foursome James Milner (7), Naby Keita (8), Roberto Firmino (9) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have four options left on the hook, although there could be internal calls for those jerseys. Other tracks currently available include; 12, 16, 24, 25, 30 and 31 along with further options in the 30s and 40s.