Liverpool set to sign 140-goal striker and £65m defensive pair in ideal starting XI if transfer rumors are accurate

Liverpool are gearing up for the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur as the transfer deadline nears. The significance of their 2-0 victory over Bournemouth on Saturday was further emphasized on Sunday when Arsenal triumphed over Manchester City 5-1, almost ending City’s title hopes.

The Reds remain six points ahead of the Gunners, with one game in hand, as they shift their focus to domestic cup competitions. Next up is the Carabao Cup clash with Spurs, where Liverpool aims to overcome a 1-0 deficit from the first leg. After that, they will travel to Plymouth Argyle for their FA Cup fourth-round match.

While Liverpool aren’t expected to have a busy transfer deadline day, with a focus on loan moves for some younger players, the club has still been linked with some notable signings. Below, we present what Arne Slot’s starting XI might look like if recent transfer rumors hold true.

Defensive duo worth £65m join

Two players reportedly linked to Liverpool during the January transfer window are Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah and Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez. Both positions are areas the Reds need to strengthen. Since Joel Matip’s departure from Anfield and eventual retirement, Liverpool has yet to fill that gap in the defense.

Kerkez is valued at £40m, while Tah is priced at £25m, although his value could rise given his contract is nearing its end. The German defender has also caught the eye of top Spanish clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid. Arne Slot spoke highly of Tah after Liverpool’s 4-0 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen, stating, “I think Tah, who is a real good defender and is one of the best defenders in Germany… maybe the best defender in Germany, maybe likes to play more against a target man, someone who’s there in the middle.” On Kerkez, Slot commented after Liverpool’s win over Bournemouth, “I don’t think I have to talk about players that we are interested in, let alone a player from Bournemouth. He’s playing over here, he’s having a great season as many, many, many other players here are as well.”

Prolific striker joins on bargain deal

Lille striker Jonathan David, another player Liverpool faced in the Champions League this season, is also in the final months of his contract. Like Tah, he can negotiate a pre-contract agreement with Liverpool. David was close to joining Bayern Munich last summer but cannot engage in talks with them since both teams play in the Bundesliga.

David, a prolific striker, has attracted attention from multiple Premier League clubs, with reports suggesting that Liverpool had a £10m bid rejected for him as they look for a more affordable deal. The 24-year-old has scored 103 goals in 215 games for Lille after netting 37 goals in 83 appearances for KAA Gent.

If these transfer rumors are accurate, Liverpool’s dream starting XI would look like this: Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Jonathan Tah, Milos Kerkez; Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai; Cody Gakpo, Jonathan David, Mo Salah.