Liverpool may have one game left to play in the Premier League. But for most supporters, attention has already turned to what is expected to be a very busy summer at Anfield.
While the Reds are ending the season strongly - they head to already relegated Southampton on Sunday on the back of a 10-game unbeaten run - the fact they will finish fifth in the final standings is a little underwhelming given their past feats under Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp will, no doubt, do everything in his power to get his side back competing for silverware at home and abroad in 2023-24 - and he has already admitted that he will need to freshen up his squad to do that.
READ MORE: Liverpool could repeat £36.9m transfer if Alexis Mac Allister and Mason Mount reject them
READ MORE: What Brighton fans chanted at Alexis Mac Allister after Liverpool rumours
With speculation swirling over the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Mason Mount, little wonder then that our latest Q&A with our chief LFC writer Ian Doyle was dominated by transfer talk. You can see every question he answered by clicking HERE.
But below are some of the highlights...
sixtyfivehomes2: There is a lot of uncertainty on Mason Mount due to other club's interests, the potential high fee Chelsea are looking at, and there is also Pochettino's liking of him. As Klopp would like to get the transfers done earlier - and the Mount saga could drag on deep into the transfer window - do you think Klopp might look elsewhere, perhaps Urgate or even Ward-Prowse?
ID: Klopp won't want any sort of transfer saga as he wants his signings in early. If there's any suggestion Mount might take a while to sort and he actually would sooner go elsewhere, then I'd be surprised if Liverpool remained interested for too long.
shakunlaw9992: Just want to know, if we are favourites for Mount, and if he's available on the market, what’s his transfer fee package? Also is Barella still on our radar and can we be optimistic on signing him?
ID: I don't think Liverpool are favourites for Mount. Barella is a player Klopp likes but whether a move is possible remains to be seen.
endao2: I don't think Liverpool will sign Mount, Mac Allister or Gravenberch. The last few years most transfers are so secret that they are pretty much complete before the general public knows about it - like Gakpo at Christmas. Do you think this could also be the case this time and we sign players not being hyped ?
ID: There has usually been a somewhat leftfield signing - Nunez was decided upon pretty quickly last year, for example. But the pursuit of certain players does make it more likely they will come than anyone out of the blue. After all, Liverpool cannot keep putting in all the groundwork for no reason. Nobody wants to waste their time and energy. It's an important summer.
dess1e2: How many signings realistically will Liverpool make this summer?
ID: Realistically I'd say at least three. I'd be surprised if it's fewer than that. My guess would be five, but I don't think it will be the huge overhaul some were expecting just months ago. Liverpool have a lot of players in some positions - just not central midfield!
ant788212: Is James Maddison of interest and are funds definitely available for the summer rebuild?
ID: I haven't heard James Maddison being mentioned and I'd be surprised if they were in for him.
ynwa19863: Do you know what is the budget for summer transfer window? And secondly, are Liverpool looking for a left-footed centre-back? Most of centre-backs that Liverpool are speculated with are left-footed (Inacio, Ndicka, young guy from Wolfsburg, Gvardiol before they found out price etc).
ID: The club wouldn't divulge the budget publicly as that would compromise their ability to negotiate in the coming weeks and months. The centre-back question is an interesting one. Klopp said last week they were assessing their options, and you're right, the whispers are it would most likely be a left-footed centre-back to add a bit of balance to the present options.
KAndi942: Do you perhaps have any update on the Mac Allister transfer?
ID:I do not. Matters will become a lot clearer from next week, though, I'd imagine.
sixtyfivehomes2: What do you think the future holds for Fabio Carvalho? With Nunez, Gakpo, Diaz and Jota all capable of filling up the left side of an attacking trio, do you think there is a good chance for him to leave on a permanent basis this summer ? Personally, I feel he can definitely do a job for us. Would be sad to see him go.
ID: Carvalho has barely played and has perhaps been a victim of Liverpool not doing so well this season. If results had been better, I'd have expected him to play more. I don't think there's any appetite to sell him, but a loan move next season isn't out of the question. It will depend on how he does during pre-season.
jotohl2: With all of the focus on transfers and sporting director, are there any updates on the other behind-the-scenes appointments? Loads of talk about other staff members filling gaps but not exactly inspiring
ID: It's worth remembering these jobs chop and change all the time. And that certain roles, while important, have often been moved around. For example, not many could name the loan manager at Arsenal, or the head of analysis at Manchester City. The sporting director role is interesting, though. Either their long-term plan is unavailable, or the club aren't sure on what direction they want or are willing to go right now.
ezramorrison3: Will there be an actual entity/individual who will be investing in Liverpool? And what is FSG’s direction for the club as we witness the other teams catching up in terms of commercial revenue and not to mention squad investment?
ID: Well, FSG's direction is obviously to have outside investment come in and help provide more funds to at the very least bolster the squad. There isn't a lot of pressing new infrastructure needed once the Anfield Road end redevelopment is completed. FSG have said the club isn't for sale, though. And you're seeing with the ongoing saga at Manchester United that such things can take a long time. Chelsea's takeover timescale was set by an imposed deadline - and it hasn't gone too well for them so far.
sean19932: Do you think about our club's future after missing out on the Champions League to newly-rich Newcastle? Do we have any chance of competing with the financially strong teams (Man City, Man United, Newcastle) in the future?
ID: It's a lot easier for Newcastle to improve their position from where they were before their state-led takeover, compared to Liverpool going from last season when they won almost everything. FSG will surely have to spend what they feel they need to because they are a business, and if the business is failing on the pitch it will hamper their financial position. Not being in the Champions League will have to be a financial concern for them - even if it's just for one season - so they'd be wise to ensure Klopp gets in the players he needs this summer. It would be daft if they didn't. But there's a reason FSG are seeking outside investment.
gaz6802: Have the club entered into any NDA with any interested parties interested in buying a stake in the club? There was talk of Liberty Media and GIC PLC taking a stake in the club but seems to have gone cold all of a sudden. With a new investor, would they be willing to look at putting money up for expanding Anfield further? With engineering now so advanced, nothing is impossible
ID: I've not heard anything with this regard. And as for redeveloping Anfield further, I don't think it's a pressing concern right now. Much will depend on how often the new-look stadium is filled over the coming years and the demand for hospitality.
sixtyfivehomes2: Do you see Klopp accelerating Ben Doak or Kaide Gordon Into first-team plans next season or even looking at the possibility of adding a back-up to Salah ?
ID: The Europa League group stages seem a good bet for Doak and/or Gordon to get minutes. Don't forget, Gordon has been out a very VERY long time. He'll need U21 minutes first.
onthemarch2: Who would you say has been Liverpool's player of the season?
For me, in terms of overall consistency, it's between Salah and Alisson. Salah isn't take for granted by any means, but his standards are so high that even scoring 30 goals this season and providing 15 assists, he hasn't been as good as in some previous years. Alisson has been regularly excellent between the sticks this season and some of his saves have been crucial, and his ability to initiate attacks should never be overlooked. Nevertheless, I'd probably still go for Salah.
amortisedbosmankopite3: Does it really matter who we bring in when the genius Pep and his behemoth City team has won four titles in five, with the Treble very much on and with a whopping 23-point advantage over us? Surely we aren''t catching them up again now, are we? Are Klopp's fleeting glory days at our club over?
ID: It seems as though everyone has got out the wrong side of the bed this morning. Manchester City are an outlier - they operate in a completely different sphere to anyone else, and we will soon enough find out if they did it all within the rules. The fact is Liverpool are the only team in the past five years to keep pace with City and occasionally overtake them domestically. Look at how far back Arsenal will finish this season. Liverpool finished a point behind City twice and, of course, above them in 2020. Hardly fleeting, not least when you add in winning the Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. No Premier League team other than City has won more during Klopp's tenure.
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