Sports
Keep, Dump or Extend? 7 questions Liverpool must answer in the January transfer window
The January transfer window opens Thursday, triggering a month-long scramble to make any final personnel moves that will cover the rest of the Premier League season. For clubs vying for a top spot, it’s a chance to reinforce in the push for a trophy — or multiple. For teams looking to escape relegation, it’s an opportunity to bring in reinforcements to finish the job.
But it’s not just about the movement of players between clubs. Now is the time for clubs to worry about stars approaching the end of their contracts — whether hitting free agency in the summer of 2026 or 2027 — and extend them on new terms before they are persuaded to join elsewhere.
As such, it’s time for another edition of “Keep, Dump or Extend” — and this time we’re looking at Liverpool. Mark Ogden and Gab Marcotti are playing the role of sporting director to look at the questions facing Liverpool all fronts, from acquisitions and exits to contract renewals. Let’s get started!
Liverpool: Keep, Dump or Extend?
• League position, as of Dec. 30: Fourth, 32 points. (Last year’s finish: 1st, 84 points)
• Realistic goal: Champions League qualification through Premier League — or by winning the Champions League or FA Cup
1. Salah is now away at AFCON and his future remains unresolved: How do you deal with your star player?
Ogden: Two weeks ago, in the immediate aftermath of Mohamed Salah‘s contentious comments about his playing time, I would have said that Liverpool should be prepared to let him go in January if they receive a ridiculous offer from Saudi Arabia.
But the subsequent injury to Alexander Isak — who faces two-to-three months out with a broken leg — changes everything. Because of the Isak injury, Liverpool can’t afford to willingly part with their most consistent goalscorer, regardless of his feelings towards manager Arne Slot.
Isak could be back and scoring goals in early March, but that’s the best-case scenario, so the knock-on effect with Salah is that his future must now be put on hold until the summer.
0:53
Arne Slot: Myself and Mohamed Salah have moved on from Leeds interview
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has revealed that himself and Mohamed Salah have moved forward from the Egyptian’s explosive interview earlier this month.
Marcotti: The man has a contract: if he wants to stay, he stays. That’s the reality, even if these supposed massive offers from Saudi Arabia materialise.
We know Salah is not going to move for money — if he was, he would have gone in the summer as a free agent. The only thing that would make Salah leave is the realisation that he can no longer get in the starting XI regularly. He’s not there yet and with Isak out, he may never get there.
I’d like to see Slot come up with a system that masks Salah’s weaknesses and exploits his strengths. (The version of a 4-4-2 we saw at Inter Milan could be a solution.) Slot has fiddled with so many systems he may as well try that upon Salah’s return.
2. Isak is injured: Replace him from within or sign another forward?
Ogden: Liverpool will hardly miss Isak’s goals when he is sidelined because the £125m summer signing has scored just two in the Premier League since arriving from Newcastle. But if his strike at Spurs was the catalyst for a run of form, then Isak’s absence will be a big blow.
Either way, while it is a major setback for Liverpool, it would be foolish to rush into the market for a replacement in January. Salah will be back by mid-January at the latest and Slot can already count on Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and teenager Rio Ngumoha as attacking options. Add in the goals of Dominik Szoboszlai and Liverpool have plenty of cover for Isak.
2:30
Will Liverpool need to sign a replacement for Isak in January?
Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens talk about Alexander Isak’s injury against Tottenham and debate whether Liverpool will need to bring in a replacement striker.
Marcotti: Assuming nobody else gets injured, you don’t sign another forward. You don’t need another guy to replace someone who was contributing very little and couldn’t get reliably prove he deserved to start.
Let Ekitike play center forward and when he’s out, you have Cody Gakpo. Or go with a front two and get Florian Wirtz, Federico Chiesa and Salah (when he’s back) into the mix.
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3. Bring in more reinforcements at other positions, or stand pat with this Liverpool squad?
Ogden: They need to sign a centre-half.
Even if Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté continue to avoid injury, they need reliable cover or even replacements. Joe Gomez can’t be relied upon to stay fit and summer signing Giovanni Leoni, who is still just 19, is out until next season with an ACL injury.
Liverpool made a mess of their attempt to sign Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace and they may have blown their best chance of signing the England defender. But, with his contract due to expire in June and Palace vulnerable to a good offer, it would make sense to try again in early January.
Marcotti: Whether it’s Guehi or somebody else, they need another option — and it needs to be starting calibre.
I can understand not wanting to spend big in January because you rarely get value in that situation, but then they should at least seek a loan move for someone they like who is presentable in the role.
4. Elliott’s loan at Aston Villa has been a disaster: Should Liverpool try to recall him?
Ogden: Absolutely. Harvey Elliott was the star of the tournament when England won the U-21 Euros last summer, but Unai Emery has given the 22-year-old just 97 minutes of action in the Premier League during his loan at Aston Villa.
Elliott has not appeared in any competition since a four-minute substitute outing in the Europa League win at Feyenoord on Oct. 2. But due to FIFA rules, Elliott can’t play for another club after representing Liverpool and Villa this season, so Liverpool should negotiate a deal to take him back to Anfield.
Marcotti: This is a no-brainer. Bring him home. He’s versatile and hard-working, and he can do a job for you in midfield and on the wing. He didn’t play much last season (though he still appeared in 28 games), but Liverpool are in a different situation this year.
It also makes sense because with a year left on his contract, you’ll want to know if he’s worth an extension.
5. Robertson and Konate are both out of contract in the summer: Renew, or allow them to leave for free?
Ogden: I would offer Andy Robertson a new one-year contract as quickly as possible. It doesn’t matter that he will be 32 in March — Robertson’s experience and reliability have been crucial, and underused, qualities this season. He definitely has a role to play while Milos Kerkez tries to adjust to life at Anfield.
I think Ibrahima Konaté is a different matter. At 26, he is in the peak years of his career so should have been secured to a new contract at least a year ago, but his performances in 2025 have not warranted an extension and it seems mind are made up about him at Anfield.
Marcotti: I don’t think Robertson is keen to leave, so I imagine he’d take a one- or even two-year extension given he’s 31, provided he accepts the fact that he’s now a squad player.
This feels like a re-run of last year with the three free agents-to-be (Salah, Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold). The difference is that while Salah and Van Dijk accepted two-year extensions because they were older, Konate’s age means he won’t do that — nor should he.
I don’t think Liverpool ought to give up on Konate just yet, but they have to be disciplined on what they’re willing to spend, just as they were with Trent Alexander-Arnold. I’d also rely on Slot and the analytics nerds at the club to offer a convincing explanation of just why he’s been so much worse and whether it can be fixed.
6. Liverpool have a batch of 2027 expiring contracts: Alisson, Van Dijk, Wataru Endo, Salah, Curtis Jones, Joe Gomez and Stefan Bajcetic. Who should be extended now?
Ogden: I’d try to nail down Alisson Becker and Curtis Jones to long-term extensions, but the jury is out on the rest of them.
Van Dijk and Salah are obviously club legends, but both have shown signs of slowing down this season after signing two-years deals in 2025. Let’s see how they finish 2026 — if they’re still at Anfield in 12 months’ time.
Wataru Endo, Stefan Bajcetic and Joe Gomez all have different situations, but none of them should expect a new deal anytime soon.
Marcotti: I’m not sure Alisson is as automatic a choice as he was. He’s been hurt in each of the last three seasons. And with a goalkeeper of his age, 33, you can bide your time a little.
Extending Jones is a no-brainer — at the right price — and it also gives you leverage over Alexis Mac Allister, whose deal is up in 2028.
I agree there’s no rush on the others, though once Bajcetic is fit I’d like to see him gets minutes. He was a very promising player prior to this injuries.
7. Slot’s contract expires in June 2027: Reward him with a new deal, or wait until this turbulent season is over?
Ogden: It feels as though Slot has weathered the early season storm and returned to some kind of normality, but let’s see how the season plays out. Liverpool could end the season as Champions League winners, but equally, they could miss out on the top four and end up with no trophies.
It sounds wild, but despite winning the Premier League last season, Slot still needs to prove he has earned a contract extension.
Marcotti: Conventional wisdom has it that you don’t want coaches to go into a season with just one year left on their deals because it undermines their authority. I think Liverpool have already shown, with the Salah, Van Dijk, Trent sagas of last year that this isn’t necessarily the case.
If you’re a well-run club with a strong presence from the sporting director and CEO of football, a good coach like Slot shouldn’t need the safety blanket of more years on his contract. Slot is a grown-up. He knows he hasn’t performed this season and I don’t think he’ll flip out if you don’t give him deal.
On the other hand, if he finds the right balance and turns it around, by all means, reward him in the spring.
Less than two months remain until WrestleMania 42 from Las Vegas in April, and this Saturday marks a critical stop along the way. Chicago’s United Center will host the 16th WWE Elimination Chamber premium live event (7 p.m. ET on ESPN Unlimited), where the WrestleMania card will continue to be constructed.
The show will feature both men’s and women’s Elimination Chamber matches, during which six wrestlers, surrounded by a steel cage structure, work to pin or submit their opponents until one winner is left standing. That wrestler receives a championship opportunity at WrestleMania. CM Punk will also defend his World Heavyweight Championship in his hometown against Finn Bálor. And the Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee saga continues with the Women’s Intercontinental Championship on the line.
Here are the notes, stats and Elimination Chamber history to know heading into Saturday’s event.
Men’s Elimination Chamber
Participants: Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, LA Knight, Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams and Jey Uso
1:04
Cody Rhodes: ‘I need to officially point at the WrestleMania sign’
Cody Rhodes previews the Elimination Chamber against Randy Orton, LA Knight, Je’Von Evans and Trick Williams, readying to punch his ticket to WrestleMania.
• The first Elimination Chamber match occurred 23 years ago at Survivor Series in 2002. Shawn Michaels won the match to become world heavyweight champion.
• There have been 36 men’s and women’s Elimination Chamber matches combined, 11 of which have produced new champions.
• Triple H and John Cena share the distinction of most Elimination Chamber victories with four each. Daniel Bryan is next with three. Cena is the most recent Elimination Chamber winner, having won the men’s match in 2025. He turned heel and claimed his record-setting 17th championship the following month at WrestleMania 41.
• This will be a record-setting 10th Elimination Chamber match for Orton. Chris Jericho and Cena sit two back of Orton in the record book with eight entrants. If Orton records two eliminations in Saturday’s match, he will tie Jericho for the most all time (10). Orton is the only participant in the match with an Elimination Chamber win. He won in 2014 and retained the world title on his way to the WrestleMania 30 main event.
• Rhodes has lost three consecutive PLE matches, dating back to Crown Jewel in October 2025. It is Rhodes’ longest PLE losing streak since he returned to the WWE at WrestleMania 38 in 2022. On Saturday, Rhodes will make his first Elimination Chamber appearance since his WWE return, but not his first ever. In his first WWE stint, he took part in the World Heavyweight Championship Elimination Chamber match, won by Bryan in 2012.
• Uso won five straight WWE PLE matches from November 2024 to August 2025 — including his World Heavyweight Championship win at WrestleMania 41. Since then, he’s on a four-match PLE losing streak for the first time since 2020-21.
• Knight is looking for a change in luck at the Elimination Chamber. It has been more than a year since Knight has won a PLE match. Since Crown Jewel in November 2024, he has lost seven consecutive PLE bouts.
Women’s Elimination Chamber
Participants: Alexa Bliss, Tiffany Stratton, Rhea Ripley, Asuka, Kiana James and Raquel Rodriguez
• The first women’s Elimination Chamber match occurred in 2018. Bliss won the match and retained her “Raw” women’s championship. This will be the eighth women’s Elimination Chamber match in history.
• The only superstar with multiple women’s Elimination Chamber wins is Bianca Belair (2022 and 2025). Bliss or Asuka could join her on that list this weekend.
• Stratton is aiming to avoid her third straight WWE PLE loss after Liv Morgan eliminated her to win the Royal Rumble and Stephanie Vaquer defeated her to win the 2025 Crown Jewel Championship. Stratton hasn’t experienced a three-loss skid in PLE matches since her first three on the main roster in early 2024.
• Asuka has not won a match at a PLE event since Elimination Chamber in 2024, when the Kabuki Warriors defeated Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell to retain the Women’s Tag Team Championship.
• Rodriguez could earn her first career singles victory at a WWE PLE this weekend. Rodriguez, who holds the women’s record for tag title reigns with six, has accumulated only tag team victories in her WWE PLE career.
• Will anyone run the table in this match? Only one wrestler, Shayna Baszler in 2020, has ever recorded every elimination in an Elimination Chamber match.
World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs. Finn Bálor
1:24
Previewing CM Punk vs. Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber
Arda Ocal previews a huge match for the world heavyweight title between CM Punk and Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber in Chicago.
• The winner of this match is destined for a WrestleMania collision with Roman Reigns. Bálor defeated Reigns on his first night on the WWE main roster — the July 25, 2016, edition of “Raw.”
• This will be CM Punk’s first PLE match in Chicago since he took down Jericho at Payback in 2013. Overall, he has wrestled in six WWE PLE matches from Chicago and has a 4-2 record. One of Punk’s two UFC fights also occurred in Chicago.
• Punk is in the midst of an impressive run. He has not lost a match in more than two months. During that stretch, he successfully has retained the World Heavyweight Championship in three television matches against Bron Breakker, AJ Styles and his Elimination Chamber opponent, Bálor.
• It has been two years since Bálor last won a PLE match. In fact, his last such win occurred at the 2024 Elimination Chamber. At that event, he and Damian Priest successfully defended their tag titles against Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee
1:05
Best moments of WWE Elimination Chamber history
Relive some of the top moments of Elimination Chamber history as we gear up for Saturday’s event.
• Lee will compete in her first championship match in more than 11 years. Her last title bout occurred in December 2014, when she battled Nikki Bella at Tables, Ladders and Chairs … and Stairs for the Divas Championship.
• Lynch is 3-0 at Elimination Chamber. Her last such win occurred in 2024, when she won the women’s Elimination Chamber match.
• Lee will make her second career Chicago PLE appearance after she defeated Kaitlyn to win the Divas Championship at Payback in 2013.
Cristiano Ronaldo has acquired a 25% ownership stake in Spanish second division club UD Almeria.
The financial terms of the transaction, done through the Portugal captain’s CR7 Sports Investments company, have not been disclosed but the deal is considered a long-term strategic investment from Ronaldo.
“I have long had the ambition to contribute to football beyond the pitch,” Ronaldo said in a statement.
“UD Almería is a Spanish club with a strong foundation and clear growth potential. I wish to work with the team leading the club to support it in its new phase of growth.”
UD Almeria were taken over by a Saudi Investment group in May 2025.
Ronaldo, who turned 41 on Feb. 5, has in the past expressed his desire to own a football club once he retired.
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The former Real Madrid star last summer extended his contract with Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr through June 2027 and is expected to captain Portugal this summer in what will be a record sixth World Cup.
UD Almeria president Mohamed al Khereiji is thrilled to have the five-time Ballon d’Or winner on board.
“He is considered the best on the pitch,” Al Khereiji said. “He knows the Spanish leagues very well and understands the potential of what we are building here both in terms of the team and the youth academy.”
Relegated to the second division in April 2024, Almeria are on course to gain promotion to Spain’s top fight this season. They are third in Spain’s second tier, two points adrift of leaders Racing Santander after 27 games.
Real Madrid have their eye on Arsenal‘s Gabriel Magalhães, and Chelsea remain keen on Aston Villa‘s Morgan Rogers.
Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
Transfers home page | Men’s winter grades | Women’s grades
TRENDING RUMORS
– Real Madrid have made an enquiry about Arsenal center back Gabriel Magalhães, according to TeamTalk. The Premier League leaders quickly informedMadrid that the 28-year-old is not available at any price. Gabriel signed a long-term contract extension last summer. Having also secured deals to extend the stays of Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, Arsenal are reportedly determined to show that even a club as big as Madrid can’t take their top players.
– Chelsea remain confident that they can sign Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers despite the Villans stating that only an extraordinary offer would tempt them into even considering letting him go, reports TeamTalk. That figure will likely have to be over the £100 million Villa received from Manchester City for Jack Grealish in 2021. Chelsea have held a long-term interest in the 23-year-old, with their co-director of recruitment, Joe Shields, the person who originally took Rogers to City while leading the Citizens’ youth signings.
– Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are likely to face competition from Inter Milan to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka in the summer, reports CF Bayern Insider. Bayer Leverkusen are also keen on the 31-year-old, who will be a free agent with his contract in Bavaria expiring at the end of this season. Arsenal had tried to sign Goretzka in January, but the Germany international had already given Bayern his word that he would stay until the end of the campaign.
– Manchester United are closely monitoring the situation of Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye, as reported by Footmercato. The 27-year-old’s reputation has grown since he scored the winner against Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final, and he is also a key player for Villarreal. The World Cup offers Gueye another opportunity to impress on a big stage, yet he has already attracted plenty of interest, particularly from United who are looking to replace Casemiro following the announcement that the Brazilian will be leaving Old Trafford.
– Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford have all made checks on Eintracht Frankfurt right-back Nnamdi Collins, according to TeamTalk. Arsenal, in particular, are impressed by the 22-year-old and see similarities to Ben White, although Frankfurt have a strong negotiating position as Collins’ contract runs until 2030. Fellow Frankfurt full-back Nathaniel Brown has also been heavily scouted with Manchester United having looked at the 22-year-old.
EXPERT TAKE
ESPN’s Barcelona correspondent Sam Marsden takes a look at the club’s key transfer questions, including which striker they should sign:
Barça should sign a Kylian Mbappé or a Harry Kane, but they also should sign a center back, a fullback and a holding midfielder, probably another winger as well, so where will they streamline their spending? I would lean toward a center back.
But if it’s a striker, Julián Álvarez is well-liked within the club’s hierarchy. However, his recent form — no goals in 11 games before scoring against Barça last week — has raised doubts. Also, the fee Atlético would want for him is prohibitive — Barça sources have told ESPN they want well over €100 million. There is also no guarantee he would score more than Ferran Torres, who actually has five more league goals than Álvarez this season in 300 fewer minutes.
In that sense, Dusan Vlahovic could work as a free shot considering he will be out of contract this summer at Juventus, even if he would not excite supporters. Given how the market is and how much can change, I would advise Barça to sit tight for now and prioritise other areas until they can afford a proper investment in a striker.
OTHER RUMORS
1:26
Moreno: PSG could get exposed in Champions League knockouts
Alejandro Moreno reacts to PSG’s progression to the Champions League knockouts after a 5-4 aggregate win over Monaco.
– Brighton could drop their valuation for Carlos Beleba from over £100 million to around £70 million amid interest from Manchester United. (TEAMtalk)
– Casemiro wants to continue playing in Europe when he leaves Manchester United, with Italy being flagged as a possible destination for the midfielder. (The Sun)
– Manchester City and Arsenal are closely monitoring versatile Brighton midfielder Jack Hinshelwood. (Caught Offside)
– Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United have all closely watched 18-year-old Ajax midfielder Sean Steur in recent weeks. (TEAMtalk)
– Marcus Thuram could leave Inter Milan during the summer transfer window. (Nicolo Schira)
– Several foreign clubs have approached Marc Casado, but the midfielder is getting closer to extending his contract with Barcelona. (Nicolo Schira)
– Atletico Madrid have included Borussia Dortmund striker Fabio Silva on their shortlist of possible replacements for Julián Alvarez if the 26-year-old leaves in the summer. (Rudy Galetti)
– Tottenham want to move for Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the summer as they prepare to lose Guglielmo Vicario. (Football Insider)
– Crystal Palace view signing a replacement for Marc Guéhi as a priority during the summer transfer window. (The Standard)
– Premier League and top European clubs are tracking Brentford goalkeeper Matthew Cox‘s impressive form on loan at Shrewsbury Town. (Football Insider)
Who has the advantage at WWE Elimination Chamber? Notes, stats and history to consider
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