Liverpool are already in the thick of the transfer gossip now the winter 2025 window is officially open for business, so Rousing The Kop rounds up the latest Reds rumours.
It is the first mid-season market that Arne Slot has spent as the head coach of Liverpool. The Dutchman rarely dipped his toes in the sales last summer after replacing Jurgen Klopp in the Anfield hot seat. But a Premier League title bid in his first season may tempt the Reds to act.
Slot also faces a potential fight to keep hold of some of his key Liverpool first-team players in the Merseyside club’s bid to even contend for the Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup. Life has so far been good for the Reds over Slot’s first seven months in charge of Liverpool.
With that in mind, Rousing The Kop has rounded up all of the latest Liverpool transfer news and rumours as players are linked with moves to and away from Anfield in the winter sales…
Liverpool expect Real Madrid to speak with Trent Alexander-Arnold about a free transfer
The Liverpool transfer rumour mill took off even before the winter market official opened on January 1 with the news that Real Madrid made a formal approach to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold. Los Blancos’ enquiry fell on deaf ears but the full-back is out of contract on June 30.
So, reports claim that Liverpool expect Real Madrid will speak to Alexander-Arnold about his free transfer ahead of the summer. The Galacticos are clear to hold formal talks with the 26-year-old now that the New Year has rolled around and his contract has just six months to go.
Liverpool have no interest in holding further talks with Real Madrid about potentially selling Alexander-Arnold in the winter 2025 transfer window. The Anfield natives are determined to keep their academy product on Merseyside to help them battle for the Premier League title.
Alexander-Arnold is also yet to communicate to Liverpool any desire to join Real Madrid. His representatives are even still engaged in talks with the Reds about a potential new contract. The right-back has spent his entire career thus far at Anfield and Liverpool are loath to part.
Slot has also established Alexander-Arnold as a crucial cog in his team with 23 appearances from a potential 25 games across all competitions so far this term. He also has one goal and five assists yet, including scoring one and assisting four goals in 17 Premier League games.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank rates Liverpool’s chances of signing Bryan Mbeumo
Despite Liverpool sitting atop the Premier League table and leading the league phase of the Champions League, the Reds could be in the market for a new forward. But Brentford coach Thomas Frank does not rate Liverpool’s chances of signing Bryan Mbeumo very highly at all.
Liverpool have emerged as one of the teams monitoring Mbeumo’s availability with Arsenal and Newcastle United as the 25-year-old is enjoying a sensational season for Brentford. The 18-cap Cameroon star is one of the top seven goalscorers in the Premier League this term.
His haul further features goals from games on the right flank and from a central role to give a varied threat. Mbeumo also has goals against Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle and Chelsea. So, Frank has wished sides like Liverpool ‘good luck’ targeting Mbeumo’s transfer this winter.
“In January? I would say good luck,” Frank said in his pre-Arsenal press conference. “We love Bryan. He loves playing here. He has had a fantastic season, so nothing will happen.”
Liverpool have made an approach to sign FC Barcelona star Dani Olmo in January
FC Barcelona continue to clash with La Liga as the Camp Nou club battles with their financial demons, and it could play into the hands of sides like Liverpool. With the Blaugrana needing to raise funds quickly to register players they already have, some stars may be heading away.
Now, Liverpool have approached Dani Olmo’s agent to discuss a transfer as Barcelona might have to release a player they only signed last summer. The 26-year-old is wanted by each of Europe’s top clubs with the shock situation that he may leave Camp Nou for free this winter.
Arsenal were the first club to declare their interest in the Spaniard’s services should he leave the Blaugrana. But Liverpool, Manchester United, Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen have also all lodged approaches to sign Olmo.
Olmo remains determined to stay at Barcelona and honour a contract running to June 2030 that he only signed last August. He is also a key part of Hansi Flick’s XI with six goals and an assist in 15 games yet. But Liverpool are interested in Olmo’s transfer if he leaves Barcelona.
ACF Fiorentina are ‘really thinking about’ a return for Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa
Slot only welcomed one new player to Anfield in his first transfer window as the head coach of Liverpool last summer after signing Federico Chiesa from Juventus. But the move has not yet paid off, with the 27-year-old featuring just four times for a total of 123 minutes to date.
Fitness problems have frequently blighted the Italy forward in his quest to establish a role at Anfield, having only made seven of a possible 25 matchday squads. Now, ACF Fiorentina are ‘really thinking about’ targeting Chiesa’s transfer from Liverpool in the winter 2025 market.
A Viola already conducted some tentative studies into a deal for Chiesa before Juventus sold him to Liverpool in August. Yet his struggles at the Reds convinced the Serie A side to revive their interest. But Chiesa’s £150k-a-week Liverpool wage is more than Fiorentina can afford.
Stade Rennais midfielder Azor Matusiwa finds transfer links with Liverpool ‘an honour’
Liverpool are often linked with targeting transfers for midfielders, and a new name is on the Reds’ radar in Stade Rennais anchor Azor Matusiwa. The 26-year-old has also opened up on his name being beside Liverpool’s in transfer gossip columns amid Rennes’ mixed season.
Rennes are only 12th in the Ligue 1 table at the turn of the year, having won five of their 15 fixtures of which Matusiwa has started in 13 and featured in 14. The defensive midfielder is yet to score or assist a goal in France’s top-flight this term and has received one yellow card.
But while his focus is on helping Rennes move clear of the relegation zone and upholding his output, Matusiwa finds being linked with a transfer to Liverpool ‘an honour’. The Dutchman only joined Rennes in January 2024 when he joined from Stade de Reims in a £16.5m move.
“If it’s true, of course, that is nice,” Matusiwa said about Liverpool’s interest. “It means that I am doing a good job at Rennes and that is how I have to continue for the rest of the season.
“I need to carry on helping the team and then maybe something great will come in the future. But I’m not looking at anything like that right now. Of course, it’s an honour if you get linked with a club like Liverpool.”
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