Liverpool are starting to map out their transfer plans for when the market reopens and there are still several key factors that could impact what business Jurgen Klopp gets over the line.
Having shelved plans to pursue long-term target Jude Bellingham this summer, due to the immense financial costs involved, Liverpool will instead attempt to revamp the engine room with more than one signing in that position. Mason Mount, Nicolo Barella and Ryan Gravenberch are potential alternatives.
Further incomings will depend on who leaves Anfield before next season. Roberto Firmino has confirmed this will be his last campaign in the famous red shirt, and it could yet prove to be a transitional window with Naby Keita and James Milner among those tipped to follow.
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If they do, Liverpool will need to reassign four iconic squad numbers next season; with Firmino (9), Keita (8) and Milner (7) currently assigned three high-value jerseys, while Sadio Mane vacated the number 10 shirt last summer. Here are three leading candidates to replace them from within the current squad;
Luis Diaz
Current shirt number: 23
Eighteen months into his promising Anfield career, Diaz is finally back fit and ready to step up his chase for a regular spot in the starting line-up. In that respect, he has competition from Nunez and Gakpo, among others, while his fellow forwards could also be in the running for a shirt number upgrade. Diaz wore number 7 for FC Porto and he donned the number 10 shirt in his final season with Junior FC before joining the Portuguese side.
Cody Gakpo
Current shirt number: 18
Signed from PSV during the January window, Gakpo resisted any temptation to grab the number 10 shirt left behind when Mane headed to the Bundesliga last summer. It might well be because the Netherlands star has his eye on 7, 8 or 9 instead - he has worn all three throughout his international career. Mohamed Salah has the number 11 shirt Gakpo preferred at PSV and that will, ultimately, be out of the reach for him this summer.
Darwin Nunez
Current shirt number: 27
Perhaps the man in pole position to take the famous number 9 shirt? As mentioned above, Firmino will leave that behind when he moves on to a new challenge next season and Nunez favoured the squad number when he was with Benfica, netting 48 goals in his two years there. Having totted-up 15 goals so far during his debut campaign at Anfield, in all competitions, emulating Robbie Fowler, Ian Rush and the rest might give Nunez the boost he needs to take his goalscoring exploits to the next level.
Other candidates
Of course, any new signings will need to be factored in here with the number 7 and number 8 shirt (perhaps) being earmarked for central midfield recruits. After wearing number 66 throughout his Liverpool career, Trent Alexander-Arnold might see this as the time for change to go with his new hybrid position. Other graduates, such as Harvey Elliott (19), Curtis Jones (17) and breakthrough Stefan Bajcetic (43), might also be lurking around.
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