Liverpool’s summer spending spree of 2025 failed to have the desired effect and has become a stick to beat Arne Slot’s team with over the course of a poor campaign.
Nevertheless, according to a new report from The Times, the Reds remain convinced that all of their big-name signings are ‘elite’ or ‘have the potential to become so.’
With the evidence on the pitch perhaps contradicting Liverpool‘s confident claims, Rousing The Kop have assessed each of the six outfield additions to determine whether they are elite, have the potential to be so, or are simply not going to reach that level.
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Florian Wirtz – Verdict: Elite
At the beginning of the season, the player who most readily fit into the category of ‘elite’ was Florian Wirtz. However, nine months on, and the German has really struggled to justify that label.
There have been flashes of brilliance, and Wirtz looked set to prove himself beyond doubt after the turn of the New Year. However, injury looks to have put him back to something close to square one.
Nevertheless, the 22-year-old is clearly still a top quality player, and although Liverpool could do with him showing it much more often, his six goals and six assists will still improve and could easily become double figures in both metrics. The least you’d expect, perhaps, but not many players are capable of that even at their best.
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Alexander Isak – Verdict: Elite
Along with Wirtz, there was a similar expectation that Alexander Isak would easily justify the £125m Liverpool spent to bring him from Newcastle.
While Wirtz has at least shown some sustained excellence, lack of fitness has hampered Isak badly. Just three goals in 16 starts is a poor return, even if he has started only 10 times for the Reds.
Nevertheless, the Swede has not been bad enough – or simply not played enough – to be stripped of his elite status. As a goalscorer he has been one of the most lethal in the Premier League for the last two seasons, and once he does eventually return it is likely that he will show his quality once again.
Jeremie Frimpong – Verdict: Not elite
As Liverpool bid to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold last summer, Jeremie Frimpong looked like a strange choice.
Although the Dutchman has had some very good moments for the Reds so far, he also looks far from being one of the best right-backs in Europe.
He is better further up the pitch, but you would be hard-pressed to call him an elite forward either. Injuries have disrupted him and there is surely better to come, but for now, Liverpool will perhaps feel they could have done a better job on this front.
Milos Kerkez – Verdict: Not elite
Whether Milos Kerkez is an elite player – or could become one – looked cut and dry after several months of his Liverpool career. Despite arriving with a big reputation, the Hungarian badly struggled to get going for the Reds.
Nevertheless, Kerkez has improved in recent months to look more and more like a Liverpool starter.
Having said that, his offensive output is nowhere near where it should be, and the 22-year-old still looks like he has a rick in him. Kerkez is a very good player, no doubt about that, but elite? We don’t think so.
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Hugo Ekitike – Verdict: Could become elite
After three quarters of the season, some Liverpool supporters would argue that what they have seen from Hugo Ekitike has been undeniably elite.
While that has been true in moments, and across certain matches, Ekitike still has plenty to improve upon before he can sit in that category.
Despite certain failings such as heading and match fitness, though, the Frenchman has shown that he has the raw abilities to mould himself into one of the world’s best strikers.
Giovanni Leoni – Verdict: Could become elite
Giovanni Leoni is a hard one to judge given he only made one appearance for Liverpool before suffering a serious knee injury. However, Leoni was sensational on his debut and that, coupled with his showings at Parma, mean the Reds are right to believe he could become a top performer.
Plenty will obviously depend on how the Italian reacts to this devastating setback next season, but given his stature, ability and seemingly calm nature, he will be expected to bounce back well.
Liverpool would likely put Jeremy Jacquet into this same ‘could become elite’ category as well, but seeing as the Rennes man has yet to make any kind of contribution, we’ll reserve judgement there.
As far as last season’s signings go, Liverpool certainly have an argument that despite the failings, they actually recruited exceptionally well. Some question marks linger and perhaps the overall quality is not as high as first expected, but there are plenty of elite-level additions in there that we’ll likely look back on the summer of 2025 as a really good one for the Reds.
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