January always brings the same two things: football every three days, and a steady stream of names that may or may not exist outside a scout’s notebook. The latest round doing the rounds ties Liverpool to a couple of young midfielders, a Championship centre-back, and yet more talk about Mohamed Salah’s future.
None of it should be taken as nailed-on. But it does hint at what the club’s priorities might look like: adding youth in key areas, keeping the squad fresh, and planning for the longer term without ripping up what’s already working.
A young midfield focus keeps popping up
The headline link here is Kees Smit at AZ Alkmaar, described as a young midfield talent and, crucially, someone who “knows Arne Slot” from his time there. That sort of connection always makes a rumour feel a bit more believable, even if it still needs the usual caution.
If Liverpool are shopping in that space, it makes sense on a basic level. The midfield rebuild has already happened in big chunks, but modern squads don’t stand still. You’re constantly topping up, especially with players who can develop into starters rather than arrive needing to be one on day one.
There’s also continued mention of Assan Ouedraogo and a separate link to Alex Toth for next summer. Whether those specific names are real targets or just the internet doing its thing, the profile being discussed is clear: young, technical, creative, and able to grow into the tempo of Premier League football.
Planning beyond Endo, without forcing it
The suggestion that this is about an “Endo replacement” is interesting. Endo’s role, when he plays, is pretty specific: keep things tidy, win second balls, hold the middle when the game gets messy. If Liverpool want a younger option there, it’s less about binning anyone off and more about making sure there’s a succession plan.
Slot’s sides, in general terms, want midfielders who can handle the ball under pressure and keep the team moving forward. That doesn’t mean you ignore the graft, but it does mean the technical base level has to be high.
Centre-back chatter and the Salah noise
On the defensive side, there’s a mention of Cardiff’s Lawlor drawing attention and a rumoured straight swap involving Calvin Ramsay. It’s the kind of thing that can spread quickly because it’s neat and simple. Neat and simple is rarely how deals actually work.
Then there’s Salah. The claim here is Liverpool would want £30-40m, with Galatasaray mentioned, plus comparisons to other wide forwards. With Salah, every window becomes a global guessing game. Until anything concrete appears, it’s probably best treated as background noise while we focus on what happens on the pitch.
If nothing else, it’s a reminder: the conversation around Liverpool is never quiet for long.
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