Liverpool’s ideal transfer window would result in three acquisitions, including a $39 million agreement for Arne Slot

There are about four days left for Liverpool to conduct business this summer. While Giorgi Mamardashvili is getting close to making a move, Arne Slot may make one or two additional acquisitions as well.

Liverpool has about four days remaining in the first transfer window under the new sporting director’s supervision to complete any transactions. Even if Arne Slot took over a formidable squad from Jurgen Klopp, a few new players would be a nice addition.

Although the Reds have never been one to spend money haphazardly, that won’t be changing anytime soon. However, there are a few crucial places where adding one extra body might make sense. Given that Martin Zubimendi was not selected, holding midfield would be the most logical position to play, though a centre-back might also be made.

Although Zubimendi’s decision to remain at Real Sociedad was unexpected, it would have been risky to have signed another midfield player in place of him, even with his particularly strong profile. With Curtis Jones sidelined due to an injury, Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott were the only players available for the victory over Brentford.

That is acceptable as long as Liverpool is only playing one game every week, but the schedule will get much more condensed following the international break in September. That would be a stretch of resources in weeks where there are three games in a span of seven or eight days – most weeks until the end of the season, if Liverpool makes the progress it expects to.

Slot’s style is more controlled than Klopp’s but that doesn’t mean that it won’t eat up a lot of energy. In addition to Jones, injuries are already being sustained by Jarell Quansah, who missed a few sessions of practice last week. These will only get worse.

It’s difficult to think of a name for someone who could stand in for Zubimendi. But, if Liverpool doesn’t sign another midfield player, Bobby Clark’s departure could leave them without many centre-back choices. If he hadn’t been traded to Red Bull Salzburg, he very likely would have been on the bench over the weekend.

Liverpool could need one more adaptable option in defence, even if Joe Gomez decides to stay—which is undoubtedly the most likely scenario this late in the transfer window. The Reds would appear thin on players with just one centre-back injury, which is historically typical. Gomez, who can’t play both positions at once, covered at full-back for the majority of the previous season.

Wearing Goncalo Inacio from CP, for instance, might be a suitable match. He is a very skilled ball player who can play both left and left-sided centre-back. If Liverpool was certain that it was the right decision, it would be a feasible solution given that he has a $67 million (£51 million/€60 million) release clause and that his manager, Ruben Amorim, has acknowledged that he might depart before the transfer window closes.

Though Liverpool has shown a strong interest in Anthony Gordon and even reached an agreement in principle to sign him earlier in the summer, Gordon appears destined to remain at Newcastle United, at least for the time being. Eddie Howe’s side would ideally demonstrate a willingness to profit, but it sounds incredibly unrealistic.

Giorgi Mamardashvili, the custodian for Valencia, is one possible target. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Reds and Valencia have agreed to a deal of an initial $33 million (£25 million/€30 million) plus $5.6 million (£4.2 million/€5.0 million) in add-ons. Though he may be Liverpool’s first summer addition, ideally he won’t be the team’s last.