Liverpool's Summer Transfer Debate: Who Will Replace Key Players?

Liverpool’s summer debate is starting to sound familiar. Who replaces the legs in midfield, the goals on the wing, and the leadership at the back if this era begins to shift?

MacAnthony’s big Wharton shout

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony, a lifelong Liverpool supporter, has nailed his colours to one name: Adam Wharton.

"I'd love them to sign Wharton," he told talkSPORT, before turning the spotlight on Alexis Mac Allister’s engine. "I think Alexis Mac Allister, for me, his legs were gone last year. It was only when he put an Argentina shirt on that his legs reappeared."

MacAnthony went further. In his view, Liverpool should not be afraid of a major reset in that role.

"If you could do business there with him going, I think you bring [Wharton] in and you’ve got a player for the next seven, eight years that will be a starter.

He's got so much upside and potential in him. Even if he costs £85M-£100M or whatever else, you’re getting the player for the long-term."

A huge fee. A long-term bet. But that is exactly the kind of profile Liverpool have been willing to back in recent windows.

Barcola, Salah and the next attacking puzzle

Out wide, the conversation is very different but just as urgent. Mohamed Salah’s future hangs over everything, and Alan Smith believes Bradley Barcola could be a smart piece of the answer.

"He's played on the left for PSG," the former Arsenal striker said. "He can play on the right, so it's not as if you would earmark him as a like-for-like replacement for Mohamed Salah.

But it looks like he's going to move if PSG can accept a fee. It seems to be between Liverpool and Arsenal. He's a talented player; we saw that in the World Cup. He'd be a great signing for Liverpool."

Speaking to Liverpool.com on behalf of Best Betting Sites, Smith underlined the scale of the hole Salah would leave.

"With Salah going, a like-for-like replacement in terms of goal output is a priority."

Then came an intriguing twist. Smith floated an internal solution to some of those lost goals.

"But the thing is, with Alexander Isak back fit, Hugo Ekitike is going to be out for a few months, but Isak got himself a goal the other day in pre-season, so he's well capable of getting 20 plus league goals.

So that might be an answer for them with Salah going. And Florian Wirtz, second season, he can chip in, get well into double figures. But I'd still think that they'll be after a striker or an attacking player."

The message is clear: even with emerging scorers stepping up, Liverpool’s recruitment team cannot ignore the front line.

Trent, Dumfries and a crowded right flank

At the back, the landscape has changed again. With Denzel Dumfries heading to Real Madrid, Trent Alexander-Arnold will not stroll into the right-back slot without questions over his role.

Reports in Spain have suggested José Mourinho could move him into midfield, adding yet another layer of competition in the centre of the pitch. Liverpool already have options there, but Alexander-Arnold’s quality almost demands a solution.

He is too good to park on the bench. One way or another, he will find minutes – the only real question is where on the pitch he’ll be dictating games.

Gerrard’s call that shaped an era

While Liverpool weigh up their next big decisions, Steven Gerrard has lifted the lid on one of the most important choices of the last decade: Virgil van Dijk’s move in 2017.

"He phoned me at the time, actually," Gerrard recalled. "I knew his agent really well. It was City, Liverpool.

He said to me, ‘I haven’t phoned you to sort of push me one way or the other, because I know which way you’re going to push me. But just tell me a little bit about Liverpool?’"

Gerrard did not need long to make the case.

"I just said to him, ‘Look, if it’s about what the clubs stand for and what the clubs are about, you’re wasting your time because I think you already know the answer to that.’

It was an interesting conversation and I was so happy that he chose us."

That decision helped define Liverpool’s modern identity. The next wave of calls in the market will decide what comes next.

A Gerrard-type from Napoli?

Rene Meulensteen, once Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United, has thrown an unlikely name into the Liverpool mix: Scott McTominay, now at Napoli.

"McTominay has Gerrard-esque qualities and would suit Liverpool, he's one of those midfielders that can get you goals, now how many of those midfielders are around today?" he told Tipman Tips.

He brings physicality, energy, drive, braveness, courage, goals, and makes good box runs.

I've been very impressed with him since he left United because that could have easily been the start of his career fizzling out. But with Scott it’s the total opposite, he has bloomed and come to life."

Comparisons with Gerrard are heavy praise in these parts. Whether Liverpool share that view is another matter entirely.

Quiet kick-off, busy screens

Away from the transfer noise, Liverpool’s preparations continue. Their behind-closed-doors clash with Como this weekend has been nudged forward.

The first game of the day will now kick off at 11.30am (UK time), half an hour earlier than originally planned. The later fixture, played in front of supporters, stays at 6pm (UK time).

No fans will be inside for the early match, but the club will stream it through official channels – another small window into a squad that could look very different if some of these bold ideas become reality.