Report: Liverpool could replace two key players in summer 2026 as transfer plans begin to formulate already
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Liverpool’s summer transfer window of 2025 will go down in history as the biggest ever seen at Anfield.
The Reds ultimately spent over £400m in their pursuit of overhauling and improving the players available to Arne Slot.
Of course, they recouped plenty of that in sales, but the headline will forever remain that Liverpool broke the British transfer record and spent more than £100m on one player twice in the same summer.
The window has ended any lingering doubts over Richard Hughes as Liverpool’s sporting director, and has whetted the appetite for the season ahead.
However, while the focus for supporters is now finally back on the football, Hughes will already be turning his attention towards what he can do in 2026.
And as others look back on a sensational window at Anfield this time around, the Scotsman is reportedly already planning for next year.
Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
2025 was always likely to be a busy summer for Liverpool.
After barely spending at all the previous summer, they had plenty to do.
Nevertheless, they did not sort everything out.
Liverpool failed to sign Marc Guehi at the last minute on deadline day, which arguably leaves the defence slightly short.
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While there have already been suggestions that Liverpool could come back in for Guehi, it reportedly may be one of the only pieces of business the Reds conduct in 2026.
As per The Daily Mail, there is an ‘understanding’ internally at Liverpool that next year will be a quieter summer.
READ MORE: How Alexander Isak reacted when he heard Liverpool had signed Hugo Ekitike before him
Despite that, it is claimed that the Reds could look into sorting out replacements for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, who will be entering the final year of their new contracts.
Liverpool could reportedly look to find a succession plan for the two superstars instead of having to sort it all out in 2027.
Sometimes players are that good and have given that much to a club, that you simply cannot replace them, no matter how hard you try.
Liverpool found that with Steven Gerrard.
The same is true of Van Dijk and, perhaps to a slightly lesser extent, Salah.
Replacing the current captain and what he gives Liverpool is going to be impossible.
But Hughes almost signed Guehi this summer, and maybe the sporting director sees him as something of a successor.
Liverpool already have Giovanni Leoni, in whom there are high hopes, and Guehi with Leoni could be a way of replacing Van Dijk by aggregate.
In terms of Salah, Liverpool may have to bring in another left footed forward, and perhaps Leicester City’s Abdul Fatawu could be one to watch.
But in signing Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike for big money this summer, the Reds have arguably already moved to plan for life beyond the Egyptian King.