Liverpool’s January window: No thrills, No spills – Why Liverpool remained hush in the market | OneFootball

By Ben Rowley

Liverpool’s transfer activity whispered in the sound of silence, as Simon & Garfunkel once said.

No new signings arrived on Merseyside this January, but Arne Slot has assured fans that the club is “definitely working on strengthening in the summer”.

Typically, a quiet January signals a manager’s confidence in his squad, and Slot’s players’ excellent form has made Jurgen Klopp’s successor’s decision an easy one.

Liverpool eased to first place in the revamped Champions League format, and the Reds are sitting comfortably at the top of the Premier League, six points clear of Arsenal, with a game in hand.

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In the summer, it was no secret that Slot wanted a number six, targeting Martín Zubimendi, but Ryan Gravenberch’s outstanding performances have quelled that need. Even Slot admitted that he didn’t expect such a step-up from the Dutch midfielder.

One lingering concern for Liverpool fans is that Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil van Dijk are all in the final five months of their deals, with no news on renewal progress.

Real Madrid approached Liverpool in January to try and lure Trent to the Spanish capital, but the Merseyside outfit responded with an emphatic no, with this expected to play out further in the summer, according to James Pearce.

Pearce also confirmed interest from Saudi clubs in Darwin Núñez, but no official bids were made, nor would Liverpool look to sell in the window.

Speculation around the Uruguayan’s future was fuelled further by Robbie Fowler’s criticism, claiming Núñez was ‘not a Liverpool player’ after spurned chances against Accrington Stanley.

Seven days later, Liverpool’s No.9 came off the bench to seal a sensational 2-0 victory at Brentford. Typical Darwin.

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Most of Liverpool’s transfer activity this window has been outgoings.

Jayden Danns secured a loan move to Sunderland, where he’ll aim to boost the Black Cats’ promotion push.

He joins fresh off signing a new long-term contract with Liverpool, a reward for his impressive development over the past year.

Ben Doak also attracted the interest of clubs in January, with Crystal Palace reportedly tabling a £15m bid – one that Liverpool swiftly rejected, valuing the Scottish winger at double that price.

The 19-year-old remains on loan at Middlesbrough, where he has played a key role in Michael Carrick’s side breaking into the Championship play-off positions.

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Late on deadline day, Tyler Morton emerged as a target for Carrick’s side, but Boro couldn’t match Liverpool’s valuation.

Elsewhere, Dominic Corness joined League Two Gillingham on loan, while winger Kaide Gordon joined Portsmouth for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, Stefan Bajčetić was recalled from Salzburg and has since joined Las Palmas, where the Spanish midfielder will hope for regular minutes and a chance to force his way into Slot’s long-term plans.

In other business, full-back Calvin Ramsay joined Kilmarnock on loan, while goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga completed a permanent move back to Fluminense.

Redmen Reacts

With Liverpool’s campaign verging on perfection but key contractual decisions looming, all eyes turn to the summer of 2025, where the Reds will undoubtedly be major players in the transfer market – for better or for worse.