Darwin Nunez agreement as £120m splashed – Liverpool's dream transfer deadline day

Liverpool have less than 24 hours to wrap up their final business of the summer transfer window. The market closes at 11pm this evening with the Reds having so far made two signings – £29million goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who has gone back out on loan to Valencia, and £12.5m winger Federico Chiesa.

Express Sport looks at how the dream deadline day would pan out for Arne Slot and his staff…

£120m spent

While Liverpool have added extra depth in attack with the addition of Chiesa, they have not addressed the primary sources of concern: the No.6 role and central defence. The failed pursuit of Martin Zubimendi needs little introduction.

The club’s fanbase would love to see a defensive-minded midfielder brought in before 11pm. Given Alan Varela has a release clause of £60million, meaning Liverpool would not need to spend time negotiating with his club Porto, the Argentine might be the easiest of the feasible options to acquire.

The Reds have made it clear they will only spend money on the right player – which they deemed Zubimendi to be.

But with Stefan Bajcetic loaned out, they are vulnerable if injuries strike and the combative Varela has the on-ball and off-ball ability to dovetail brilliantly with Alexis Mac Allister.

With Ibrahima Konate prone to injury, the addition of a left-footed defender would be welcome. Liverpool have a great relationship with Red Bull and so snaring Castello Lukeba, 21, from RB Leipzig is viable. He would cost around £60m and can also play left-back if needed.

The signing of a centre-half is only truly likely if Joe Gomez leaves. But in a dream scenario, Slot would have them both given captain Virgil van Dijk is 33 and out of contract at the end of the season and Gomez and Konate are prone to knocks.

Joe Gomez stays

Talking of Gomez, his future has been the subject of much speculation this summer. He was initially involved in discussions to go to Newcastle, with Anthony Gordon coming the other way, but the two deals never transpired. He is known to be on the shortlists of Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Newcastle and Fulham.

But the ideal scenario for Liverpool would be to keep Gomez due to his ability to play centre-back, left-back and right-back and the fact he’s a homegrown player which is vital given the club’s return to the Champions League.

With his contract not expiring until 2027, the Merseyside outfit can still command a healthy fee for the England defender in January or next summer if he’s dissatisfied with his game time under Slot.

Darwin Nunez agreement

Sensational rumours this week suggested Arsenal could make a late play to snatch Darwin Nunez from Anfield. The Uruguayan is still not a guaranteed starting forward at Liverpool despite standing to become their most expensive signing ever if all add-ons are paid.

Having produced 18 goals and 13 assists last year, Nunez is a real asset although he has issues to iron out. Handing him over to a Premier League title rival would not be wise given his quality.

So the ideal deadline day would see Slot come to an agreement with the 25-year-old – who is understood to be happy at the club and excited to work under the Dutchman – that he will be an important player this season and has no reason to move on.

Other business

Liverpool have already loaned out seven players – Owen Beck to Blackburn, Lewis Koumas to Stoke, Luke Chambers and Calvin Ramsay to Wigan, Luca Stephenson to Dundee United, Rhys Williams to Morecambe and Fabian Mrozek to IF Brommapojkarna.

The Reds are also set to loan Ben Doak to Hull and are open to letting Kaide Gordon leave on a similar deal for vital first-team experience. James McConnell was another lined up to go out to the English Football League but injury has prevented that.