Liverpool will not play again until Manchester United visit Anfield on November 22. That gives Andoni Iraola and the club’s recruitment staff a fortnight to address issues that go beyond the next team selection.
On paper, Liverpool are in a reasonable position. They sit fourth in the Premier League, nine points behind Arsenal, and have already recorded four away wins, joint-most in the club’s league history across the first five away games, according to Opta.
But their position in the table does not tell the full story. Several important decisions need to be made before the January window opens.
Three issues stand out. Two concern players who have been central to Liverpool’s success over the past decade and whose contracts expire in the same summer.
Another involves a potential move for a midfielder from Monaco, while an injury situation could influence whether the club allows a squad player to leave. Getting those decisions wrong could turn the summer of 2027 into a rebuild rather than a refresh.
Decide Van Dijk and Alisson's futures
Virgil van Dijk is 35, and Alisson is 34, and their contracts expire in June 2027. However, treating their futures as one decision would be a mistake. Liverpool need to assess each situation on its own merits.
Van Dijk’s position appears more straightforward, with reports suggesting Liverpool are open to extending his deal. He has played every available league minute this season and remains the leader of a defence that has conceded 10 goals in 10 matches.
However, no agreement has been announced, and formal negotiations are not yet confirmed. That distinction matters because a player’s willingness to stay does not necessarily mean the club has made progress towards an extension.
Speaking before the international break, Van Dijk played down the uncertainty, saying: “I’m not in any panic.”
Alisson’s future is less certain, although the signs are more positive than a simple contract standoff. He remains Iraola’s first choice, and his performance at Selhurst Park showed the difference he can make compared with his understudies.
His agent has confirmed preliminary talks over a new contract are underway, while Alisson has publicly said he wants to remain at Anfield.
Giorgi Mamardashvili is waiting for his opportunity, while teenage goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans has already agreed to join from Genk in a deal worth up to £30 million.
Fabrizio Romano has reported a “serious possibility” that Alisson leaves when his contract expires, but that should not be treated as confirmation that he is leaving.
Liverpool cannot afford to delay a decision indefinitely. Once January arrives, the goalkeeper will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club if no extension is in place.
Buy Lamine Camara in January or wait until the summer
Liverpool’s interest in Monaco’s Lamine Camara is driven by two factors: the need for more depth in midfield and uncertainty over Monaco’s valuation.
Curtis Jones’ departure in the summer has left Iraola with fewer options in central areas than he would like. Camara has emerged as the club’s leading target, with reports in early November suggesting that Liverpool may be preparing a January offer.
Some reports have even claimed that an agreement could already be in place, although that remains unconfirmed. Signing him mid-season could come at a premium, particularly with the midfielder still under a long-term contract.
Monaco have reportedly raised their asking price from €55 million in the summer to around €70 million, and Liverpool must decide whether that price justifies moving early.
The situation is also complicated by Alexis Mac Allister’s unresolved contract. His performances this season have been encouraging, but Liverpool cannot afford to let uncertainty over multiple midfield deals develop into a bigger problem during the summer.
Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is another name in the picture, with Arsenal and Chelsea also linked with the midfielder. That suggests Liverpool are considering alternatives instead of just committing to Camara at any cost.
For now, a January move is possible but not confirmed. Liverpool could bring the deal forward if they are willing to meet Monaco’s valuation, but the club’s position remains unresolved.
Endo's exit
Wataru Endo’s future may not attract the same attention, but Liverpool’s decision could have important consequences for their squad depth.
The Liverpool ECHO reported in early November that the midfielder “will certainly leave the Reds in 2027”. The remaining question is whether he moves in January for a transfer fee or sees out his contract before leaving in the summer.
Selling a 33-year-old squad player midway through the season would bring in a modest fee and free up wages. However, keeping Endo could prove valuable given Liverpool’s current injury problems.
Ryan Gravenberch’s heel injury, Jeremie Frimpong’s muscle problem and Conor Bradley’s knee injury have already left Iraola with fewer options.
Bradley’s recovery, in particular, could influence the club’s decision. The defender suffered a serious knee injury against Arsenal in January 2026 and has since undergone surgery. Iraola has since said Bradley is closing in on a return to group training, although he remains a long-term absentee.
If Bradley returns as hoped, Endo could become more expendable. If not, allowing the midfielder to leave in January could leave Liverpool short of options.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s withdrawal after 69 minutes at Selhurst Park, followed by confirmation from Hungary’s football federation that he would undergo knee tests as part of standard protocol, is another reminder of how quickly the midfield situation can change.
These decisions will shape what Liverpool’s squad looks like when the 2027 summer transfer window opens.
The club must avoid losing important players without having replacements lined up, but it also needs to be careful not to weaken the squad by allowing useful options to leave too early.
Liverpool have a few weeks to put those plans in place. The priority should be to enter next summer with a clear idea of which players are staying, who needs replacing, and where the squad needs strengthening.
Leaving those decisions too late could turn a manageable summer into a much bigger rebuilding job.
