Jamie Carragher names three dream summer signings for Liverpool

Jamie Carragher has named Alexander Isak as one of three dream signings for Liverpool, but admits striking a deal for the Newcastle striker may be unrealistic.

Liverpool made just two first-team additions last summer, with Federico Chiesa arriving from Juventus and Giorgi Mamardashvili set to complete a move from Valencia at the end of the campaign.

Arne Slot has done a remarkable job with the squad he inherited from Jurgen Klopp, though, and the Merseyside giants are on course to win the Premier League title in the Dutchman’s debut season, barring a spectacular collapse.

The Reds wrapped up arguably their most important piece of business earlier this month as Mohamed Salah put pen to paper on a two-year extension, tying him to Anfield until 2027.

And while Trent Alexander-Arnold looks destined for Real Madrid, there has been a breakthrough in Virgil van Dijk’s contract talks and the talismanic defender is expected to commit to Liverpool over the coming days.

After scoring a dramatic winner in Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over West Ham on Sunday, Van Dijk refused to be drawn on the speculation over his future, but revealed that the club were ‘planning to make it a big summer’.

‘I think Liverpool should be able to challenge for titles in the upcoming years,’ Van Dijk told reporters.

‘Whatever happens in terms of players going out, players coming in, I think it should be a big summer.

‘I think they’re planning to make it a big summer, so we all have to trust the board as Liverpool-connected fans to do the right job.

‘I think we 100 per cent can improve. But I think we shouldn’t forget the quality that the Premier League possesses, especially this season in my opinion.

‘It’s incredible how everyone can beat everyone.’

Former Liverpool defender Carragher believes there are several areas within Slot’s squad in need of freshening up and was encouraged by Van Dijk’s comments which hinted at a summer transfer splurge.

‘It was really interesting because Virgil van Dijk spoke after the West Ham game and he was talking about it being a big summer for Liverpool,’ Carragher said on the latest It’s Called Soccer! podcast.

‘He wouldn’t say that unless he had an inkling that it was a big summer.

‘When you’re talking to Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, it’s not just about money. It’s also about what Liverpool will look like over these next two years and they’ve still got to win these biggest trophies.

‘So for him to say that, I think looking at this now, the manager Slot has seen the squad now.

‘That was one of the big reasons why they didn’t go into the market last summer because a lot of the players came back late so he hadn’t actually seen the squad.’

According to Carragher, Liverpool should prioritise bringing in a left-back, a centre-forward and an attacking midfielder when the summer transfer window opens for business.

‘There are still areas in that squad that need improving. I think left-back is one,’ he added.

‘Andy Robertson has been one of the great left-backs for Liverpool and he needs help there. Maybe he could play the role as back-up and he would still be playing 20, 25 games-a-season.

‘I think a centre-forward is a must as well because I imagine the front part of the team is the area that really needs a bit more surgery than others because of the age profile of certain players there and the contract situations.

‘So I wouldn’t be surprised if two or three of the front five or front six that Liverpool have move on and Liverpool replace them.

‘So centre-forward and left-back and, for me, I still think Liverpool lack something going forward from midfield, an attacking midfield player.

‘[Dominik] Szoboszlai does a good job, he’s got a great engine, but I think they can definitely get someone in there who can maybe score more goals.

‘I still then think you need another two or three players in the squad. One of them would be a centre-back and one of them would be a central midfield player and one of them would be a left wing.’

Carragher went on to name-check Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, Newcastle striker Isak and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike as three ideal targets for his former club.

‘We’ve got to be realistic and we’ve got to remember as well that Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, came from Bournemouth and did a brilliant job,’ the 2005 Champions League winner continued.

‘You see some of the players that Bournemouth have. He brought the manager, Andoni Iraola, in as well and he brought Kerkez to the club who has been fantastic this season.

‘He obviously likes him, he must have a relationship with the player and the agent, so I look at that and think that it probably makes sense.’

Carragher went on: ‘The one that every club would love is Isak, isn’t it? I don’t think we’re in a position where this is absolutely great centre-forwards all around Europe.

‘Do I think Liverpool could go and buy Isak? I don’t know.

‘I’m not sure Liverpool would want to pay that type of money for one player, I don’t think it’s really the model.

‘Liverpool’s model is: we’ll get the next Isak. They’re probably kicking themselves, saying, “Why didn’t we get Isak from Real Sociedad?”, so I don’t think they’ll go and break the bank for him.

‘There’s the lad at Eintracht Frankfurt, Ekitike. That smacks to me the kind of player that Liverpool would sign.

‘He’s 22, he’s at a club where you think they could be a selling club. He’s done really well there.

‘He went to PSG as a really young boy after lighting up the French league as a young kid and it didn’t quite work out for him, but he’s still really young, got great numbers and it almost looks to me like the type of player that Liverpool would sign rather than maybe going for an Isak.’

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