Liverpool transfer bombshell: Arne Slot drops major hint on January deal

Arne Slot has hinted that Liverpool will not sign a new centre-back in January and will instead prioritise other areas of the pitch during the upcoming winter transfer window.

The Reds have been heavily linked with a mid-season move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, following his failed transfer this summer, while Bundesliga duo Dayot Upamecano and Nico Schlotterbeck are also reportedly on the club’s radar.

Liverpool currently only have three senior centre-backs available for selection due to the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by summer signing Giovanni Leoni in September and they have been tipped to dip into the market for reinforcements in January.

Ibrahima Konate is into the final year of his contract at Anfield and he looks set to leave in 2026 amid significant interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid, while club captain Virgil van Dijk is now 34 years old.

However, Slot has insisted that Liverpool will instead focus on strengthening other positions in January.

Arne Slot drops January transfer hint

“This is one of the questions I didn’t expect, talking about signings and the winter break,” Slot told reporters when asked if his side will sign a centre-back in January ahead of their Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.

“I think there are so many games to play before that and the position we are in, it is the last thing that is on my mind. Maybe not on Richard [Hughes]’s, but it is the last thing on my mind. It is not a topic for me at the moment.

“We have at this moment in time three centre-backs, with Joe Gomez included of course. And maybe Ryan [Gravenberch] and Wata [Endo] who can play in the positions.

“Maybe you are not aware of it yet but we have other positions, at the moment, which is a bit more of an issue.”

Liverpool spent a record-breaking €482.9 million on seven new signings this summer, including Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, however they have been tipped to bolster their attack further when the winter window opens.

It’s understood that Antoine Semenyo is their top target, with the Ghana international set to be available for a fee of €74m due to a release clause in his new Bournemouth contract.

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