Liverpool must approach the January window with the idea of giving their season the enormous shot in the arm it needs.
The Reds have often been reluctant to do business mid-season, preferring to wait until the summer when more leg work can be done on targets.
However, with things going as badly as they are at Anfield, something different is needed in 2026.
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Liverpool have shown they will do big business where they feel it is necessary, with the arrival of Virgil van Dijk in 2018 perhaps the ultimate example of this.
Fast forward eight years, and Liverpool could do with a centre-back to ease the burden on Van Dijk. But arguably of even greater need is someone who can add steel to the Reds’ midfield. As luck would have it, that player is set to be available in the New Year.
Ederson’s agent confirms January availability
Liverpool have been on the lookout for a new defensive midfielder since the summer of 2024. After missing out on Martin Zubimendi, the Reds were heavily linked with Ederson of Atalanta.
A completely different type of player to Zubimendi, Ederson is a physical, tenacious midfielder who adds a great deal of bite to Atalanta’s midfield.
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Liverpool could certainly do with some of that now, and although price and availability ultimately proved prohibitive to their chances of landing the Brazilian last year, his agent has confirmed that neither should be a problem in 2026.
“It’s an opportunity because his contract is expiring. Atalanta didn’t want to sell him despite receiving very high offers,” Andre Curry told Spanish radio station Cadena SER via Calciomercato. “I believe they will complete the transfer in this winter or summer transfer window.
“Atalanta were asking for a lot of money, between 60 and 75 million euros, but now his contract is almost up, they could even halve the price, between 30 and 40 million. He’s a spectacular player with some of the best statistics in Europe for his position.”
For that kind of price, Liverpool could do far, far worse than bringing Ederson in to add some much needed stability into the midfield.
Liverpool’s top 10 biggest January signings
- 1. Virgil van Dijk – £75m, 2018
- 2. Luis Diaz – £43m, 2022
- 3. Cody Gakpo – £35m, 2023
- 4. Andy Carroll – £35m, 2011
- 5. Luis Suarez – £22.7m, 2011
- 6. Javier Mascherano – £18.6m, 2008
- 7. Daniel Sturridge – £12m, 2013
- 8. Philippe Coutinho – £8.5m, 2013
- 9. Fernando Morientes – £6.3m, 2005
- 10. Martin Skrtel – £6m, 2008
Ederson is the kind of midfielder Liverpool need
Liverpool are constantly looking for opportunities in the transfer market, especially in the January window.
A notoriously difficult time to do good business in, the Reds actually have a very good history of securing impressive mid-season deals.
Given the porousness of the Liverpool midfield right now, a player like Ederson coming onto the market could be exactly the kind of fix Arne Slot needs.
It would perhaps be a surprise to see Liverpool pull the trigger on a 26-year-old who has had some injury problems this season.
But Ederson would fix plenty of problems for the Reds right now. The impact of patching the gaping hole in their midfield could be season-saving. To be able to do all of that for just £30m is something Liverpool should be seriously considering.
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