LIVERPOOL CONFIDENTIAL TRANSFER SPECIAL: All YOUR questions answered on a busy summer for the champions

Liverpool are champions of England.

Have you got tired of saying that yet, Reds fans?

Anyway, to celebrate that, Liverpool Confidential is running a special edition of our weekly column which you can get every Wednesday with your subscription to Mail+.

We are answering your questions about transfers, contracts and this sensational season overall.

The answers are below… enjoy!

KlnSleepy asks: Do you think this summer is where Liverpool may spend big?

Liverpool have money to spend this summer and will do so.

I think the old cliche ‘transfer war chest’ is going too far, mind, and they are not suddenly going to finance a summer akin to one like Todd Boehly would do at Chelsea or Sheikh Mansour in his early days of Manchester City.

But Liverpool will certainly be spending money and Arne Slot is set to be backed with a decent budget that allows them to splash out while still keeping within the parameters of their business model which is about clever deals.

They will not buy for the sake of it but certain positions have been earmarked for improvement. Which brings us nicely on to our next question…

9 & 10 asks: Which positions in the squad do you think are guaranteed to be replaced?

Liverpool want a striker – that is 100 per cent certain. They are also prioritising a left-sided defender. I think it is close to a guarantee they will improve those areas and then, beyond that, they could look at a central defender, a midfielder and wide attacker depending on exits.

A lot is dependent on who leaves, as it is understood they will look to move some players on and balance the books (we will come to who I think will depart in a later question).

At striker, it is obvious why they want one – Darwin Nunez has not been good enough, Diogo Jota has struggled for form and fitness, while Luis Diaz is better as a left winger despite his best efforts as a No 9.

The manager has discussed many times how Liverpool have not blown teams away – a lot of the wins have been by narrow scorelines – and often compared this to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City who, Arne Slot says, used to win by bigger margins.

As we have reported in the past, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is one to watch. I would rule out Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap, Victor Osimhen has been linked but I have not heard anything on that one yet.

As for left back, I don’t think Andy Robertson has declined as much as some fans believe. But he is 31 now and his contract runs out at the end of next season – so it is natural that Liverpool are looking to the future there.

Mail Sport first trailed their interest in Milos Kerkez way back in November and they remain in the race for Bournemouth’s Hungary left back. Jorrel Hato at Ajax has also been mooted but talk about him has cooled somewhat recently, though Virgil van Dijk is said to be a big fan.

Mickael Valognes asks: If Trent leaves, will Liverpool assess the market to find a new right back? If yes, would he be a starter or a cover for Bradley?

Good question.

If Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves – and we do still expect him to do so despite some of the social media noise in the last couple of weeks – then I think Liverpool need a new right back.

Conor Bradley is a fabulous footballer but he cannot play every week. His fitness record since he became a first-team squad member at the start of last season has given reason for concern – a few niggly injuries along the way.

But at this stage the noises are that the left back position is seen as a bigger priority.

Jeremie Frimpong has been linked several times and Confidential understands the Bayer Leverkusen wing back will be on the move – we previously reported how he has signed a mega-money boot deal ahead of a big transfer – but Liverpool are not in active discussions to sign him at this stage.

Another option that I would throw in there for a quick and easy fix would be Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina who is out of contract this summer. If he was available on a free transfer then, after the season he has had, big clubs should definitely be keeping tabs.

Lewis asks: Any update on Dean Huijsen?

The Bournemouth centre back has a £50million release clause and Liverpool are definitely one of the clubs keen on signing him this summer. They are not alone, though, and we reported last week how Chelsea are also significant players in that race along with Arsenal and Newcastle.

Super agent Ali Barat will play a role in that move after brokering Huijsen’s switch from Juventus to Bournemouth last summer. Huijsen’s father, Don, also represents the 20-year-old.

As I wrote earlier this week, those scenes at Anfield on Sunday will certainly play a role in transfer targets’ minds this summer – they must have watched on and think they want to join the fun at Liverpool.

Liverpool will certainly not be advancing any deals with Bournemouth – Huijsen, Kerkez or Antoine Semenyo – while the Cherries are still in the mix for European football qualification. It would be disrespectful to do so.

But with the league-wide race to sign Huijsen, they will have to be quick after the season has finished, especially as Chelsea are in the FIFA Club World Cup and might try to sign him early.

Adam asks: Best interaction in the mixed zone this season?

I liked observing the chin-wags between Mohamed Salah and Pep Guardiola after both meetings between Liverpool and Manchester City. The pair clearly have a lot of respect for each other.

Just as a side note, it was touching this week when Alisson revealed Guardiola was one of the men to send a card when the Brazil No 1 lost his father. A great rival to Liverpool but also a great man, it would seem.

Then there was the ‘I’m more out than in’ comment from Salah down at Southampton. I remember it vividly: it was dark and cold and wet and I had a long drive back up north ahead of me, so was keen to get on the road sooner rather than later.

But just as we were about to call it a day, out came Salah. Those comments blew up the next day and formed a great storyline for this season. I still remember the faces of some Liverpool staffers and players looking over at him talking to us.

They probably feared the worst but it all worked out in the end…

Adam asks: Who’s likely to leave Liverpool this summer? And any talks around contracts for Ibou or even Slot?

The coaching staff want to work with a similar number in their first-team group again so I would say for every incoming, there will be one outgoing, plus maybe some younger stars exiting.

Caoimhin Kelleher has been vocal in his desire to be a No 1 keeper elsewhere so that is one to safely predict – Bournemouth are among those keen but any reports linking him to Chelsea are wide of the mark.

Kostas Tsimikas could also depart, while we know Darwin Nunez is likely to leave with Saudi Arabian clubs interested. The Saudis also like Diogo Jota but that one is a bit less clear-cut, while Barcelona and others are keen on Luis Diaz. I would keep Diaz, personally.

Then I would not be surprised if Joe Gomez departed. He is the longest-serving player but it feels like his path to be a regular starter is quite blocked these days. Jarell Quansah would command a big fee but teams are keen and this would depend on replacements.

Harvey Elliott also faces an uncertain future after a season wrecked by injuries. He wants to stay at Liverpool and they will not force him away, but a decent offer could tempt the club to sell. Brighton, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen are keeping tabs.

As for youngsters, Ben Doak is attracting mass interest from Premier League sides for a permanent move. Liverpool like him so would not be in a rush to sell him.

Tyler Morton plus loanees Lewis Koumas and Owen Beck have suitors – Sheffield United are keen on the latter duo and Morton had a string of clubs keen last summer – while there will likely be loans for young stars like Jayden Danns and perhaps James McConnell.

(Man with Ireland flag emoji) asks: If there was one word you expect Liverpool’s summer window to be, what is it?

Busy.

Mafonchik asks: What’s the future of Bajcetic in Liverpool? Is he going to be sold? Or will he be integrated into the squad?

Stefan Bajcetic has been getting rave reviews in Spain and I am in contact with people who watch him every week for Las Palmas.

Local journalist Manuel Garcia told us last month: ‘He reminds me of Sergio Busquets, because of how he drives the ball and how he moves around the field.’

But before that, it was a frustrating first half of the season at Red Bull Salzburg with the young midfielder hardly getting a kick.

Going back further, Arne Slot was keen for him to get this year of experience under his belt and did plan for him to be part of the squad in the future if the season out on loan was a success. Given the up and down campaign, it is hard to label it a success or failure.

But to answer your question, as far as I am aware Bajcetic will be given a chance to prove himself on the pre-season tour. No decisions have been made on his longer-term future yet but he is definitely not earmarked for a sale yet.

That could change of course but I think the 20-year-old will be given the opportunity to prove himself to the coaching staff this summer. If he takes it, there is absolutely every chance he could be part of the first-team squad next season.

Cal asks: Apart from the expiring contracts, whose contract do you think should be a priority going forward?

Arne Slot.

The Dutchman signed a three-year deal when he joined from Feyenoord last summer and I think Liverpool should look to tie him down to a longer-term contract because it won’t be long before his future becomes a topic of debate. He is now in the elite category of managers.

Aside from that, Ibrahima Konate is out of contract this time next year. Liverpool have opened talks to extend that deal, though there have been no fresh developments on that for some time now. Maybe one for this summer.

Looking a bit more longer-term, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch could be a midfield duo to build around for years to come. They also seem the sort that Real Madrid would try to poach, so Liverpool should look to tie them down on bumper deals in the future.

LFC211 asks: Why has Arne Slot continuously overlooked Chiesa all season?

This is a question a lot of you asked. Well, for the first half of the season it was obvious: Federico Chiesa was not fully fit or anywhere close to being match-ready.

And then I am told his performance at Plymouth in the FA Cup exit really concerned the coaching staff. It was not good enough and that set him back somewhat.

He has had some nice cameos – Darwin Nunez took the credit for that win at Brentford but he changed the game, too, and his goal at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final was very nice. I would like to see Chiesa get some minutes in the next few weeks. His future is uncertain to say the least but he has not really had a chance to show Slot and Co what he can do.

The other reason is that he is the sixth-choice striker so the others start or come on first through merit. It is a bit of a catch 22 for Chiesa but I am confident we will see him play some part in these final four games.