Arne Slot’s Liverpool tenure is off to a good start, but the Reds still have a bit of work to do in the summer transfer window.
With a new manager at the helm, it was always going to be a case of assessing the options that are already available at the club before scouring the market for potential incomings.
However, with just under two weeks left for the 2024-25 Premier League season to kick off and the transfer window set to slam shut at the end of this month, Liverpool face a race against time to add to their squad.
Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi have been heavily linked with moves to Liverpool this summer, but another interesting transfer link has emerged over the past 24 hours that could in turn affect a long-standing player’s future.
Julio Soler links could spell end for Andy Robertson at Liverpool
According to Argentine journalists German Garcia Grova and Mariano Antico, Liverpool have asked for the conditions for signing Julio Soler, who plays as a left-back for Argentine Primera Division club Lanus.
The 19-year-old represented Argentina at the 2024 Paris Olympics and featured heavily for Javier Mascherano’s side as they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by France.
Liverpool are yet to make an offer for Soler, but it is believed a fee of £13m would be enough to sign the young defender.
It might look like the Reds are well-stacked at left-back with Andy Robertson, Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas, while Luke Chambers and Owen Beck are also coming through the ranks at the club. However, with the latter two set to go out on loan or leave permanently and Robertson facing an uncertain future, things aren’t as straightforward as they seem.
Robertson emerged as a fan favourite under Klopp and played more often than not when fit as he took to his system like a fish to water. However, Slot’s possession-based philosophy could expose Robertson’s frailties, with the Scottish international not the most technically gifted footballer you’re likely to see.
At the age of 31, Robertson isn’t getting any younger and with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2026, Liverpool have a tough decision to make in the coming months. Michael Edwards has always been wary of offering multi-year contracts to players on the wrong side of 30 and is unlikely to make an exception for Robertson, whose powers have started to wane in recent seasons.
Sure, the fiery Scotsman could remain at the club season as he is currently injured, but Liverpool will be tempted to cash in on him in the upcoming transfer window to avoid losing him for free in the summer of 2026.
Considering all of the aforementioned factors, the Soler links make a lot of sense. Liverpool have been criticised in the past for their failure to tap into the South American market and the risk-to-reward ratio for this particular deal is quite low considering a measly transfer outlay of £13m.
As for Robertson, he has undoubtedly been one of the best value-for-money signings in Liverpool’s recent history, having joined the club from Hull City in the summer of 2017 for a fee believed to be in the region of £10m. He’s likely to stay at the club this summer, so if Liverpool are serious about snapping up Soler, they’d be best advised to let him stay at his current club for another season after agreeing a deal in principle.
That said, Robertson is well and truly playing for his Liverpool future as he enters what could be his last season at Anfield.
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