Where do Liverpool Need to Strengthen this Summer?

Liverpool have been a broken team this season; injuries have forced players out of position and at times our lack of depth has been exposed. Season-ending injuries to Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip have forced a regular centre-back partnership of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson who are both midfielders by trade. This has allowed players like Curtis Jones to get great first-team experience, and kept James Milner in a starting position, but whilst these players are both reliable when called upon they're not the quality that Liverpool require to be still challenging for the top prizes, which they have fallen off from this season. 

The lack of depth up front has also been very detrimental this season, as the injury to Diogo Jota mid-season meant Klopp was turning to the likes of Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri, who simply are not up to standard, and with Firmino and Mane not performing at the levels we've seen previously, Liverpool have had no real talent to call on off the bench - especially after Takumi Minamino was loaned to Southampton in January. 

So where should Klopp look to spend money this summer? If FSG want to attempt to build back the bridges they burned with the Super League debacle they need to put cash in Klopp's pocket to bring in the players he needs to put us back at the top of the table. There have already been rumours linking Liverpool to RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate, according to Fabrizio Romano, who would cost around £32m, so it seems like the owners are willing to put their money where their mouth is. 

The position that many fans have been talking about needing an upgrade is the centre-forward position. Firmino has been lacking the necessary output demanded from a Liverpool number nine for a couple of seasons now, and the days of him scoring 27 goals in one season are long gone. The obvious targets are the two players that are most sought after in world football right now. Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are set to dominate world football for the next 10 years and it seems like they both need that one more move to one of the elite level clubs to really cement themselves are one of the greats. With Haaland being at Borussia Dortmund, he is more in need of this final leap to the top and every big club on the continent is counting their pennies to try and launch a move for the Norweigian, who would most likely cost well over £100m. In my opinion, Haaland would be the ultimate signing. Pace, power, finishing, heading; he's the complete striker, and would fit like a glove in Klopp's system. 

Mbappe is also, obviously, an unbelievable player. He swaps power for a more skilful style of play with his dribbling being his best asset, and can also play on the wing. Mbappe's situation is slightly different as he is out of contract with PSG next summer, so could choose to leave on a free next January, should any club not want to pay nine figures for the Frenchman. 

Another player Liverpool have been linked with is Brighton and Mali's Yves Bissouma, as the Independent claim the Reds have lined up a £50m move as it looks more and more likely that Gini Wijnaldum will leave at the end of his contract in July and Klopp sees Bissouma as the ideal replacement. The Malian has definitely impressed at Brighton this season, proving that he is a well-rounded midfielder as he is strong in the tackle, can pick a pass, and has scored some outstanding goals - all parts of the game necessary for a player in Klopp's midfield. 

Options for additions in all areas of the pitch, Liverpool definitely need to add to their roster to get back in the mix for the title next season and to be able to challenge on multiple fronts in the various cup competitions; along with key players returning from injury, and not losing any other key players to other clubs, and Liverpool should be able to put this terrible season behind them. 

Photo credits: Anfield Watch, Goal, Daily Cannon