Liverpool transfer briefing: Which three young stars are on Reds' radar, which two midfielders could leave and what surprise move should fans keep an eye on?

Eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, six wins out of six in the Champions League, into another Carabao Cup semi-final… and yet January is likely to be dominated by stomach-churning stories for Liverpool fans.

The Big Three – Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk – are out of contract in the summer, you may have heard, and can agree a deal to join an overseas club from New Year’s Day onwards. 

Of the three, academy graduate Alexander-Arnold seems closest to an exit, but Salah has laid down ultimatums before and the club may well not acquiesce to captain Van Dijk’s wage demands.

It was a January bombshell 12 months ago that coincided with Liverpool’s title push going off the rails, when Jurgen Klopp announced he was resigning. But Arne Slot’s Liverpool carry a whole different tempo – and his entirely unflustered nature might just see them through another shock announcement if one of the contract trio do sign elsewhere.

There’s also a top-flight title still to be won, which would tie Manchester United’s record of 20, while they are the bookmakers’ favourite to win a seventh European Cup. So reinforcements may well be needed.

Here, as part of our series looking at Premier League clubs’ January plans, our Liverpool expert Lewis Steele answers the club’s five biggest questions.

One concern is star trio Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk can all start speaking to overseas clubs in January

What do Liverpool need?

Liverpool are not crying out for any specific positions given they have lost just once under Slot in all competitions.

But another body in midfield would be top of the shopping list. They tried hard to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad in the summer only for the Spaniard to turn them down.

In the summer, they may look to strengthen across the defence but a lot of their future planning depends on whether their out-of-contract stars stay or not.

Do they have money to spend?

Yes they do, but Liverpool will not spend for the sake of it. They were not flustered by outside noise in the summer when they made just one signing, and will not change tack here.

The Reds will act if an opportunity presents itself this month – and it would be interesting if Zubimendi was to U-turn on his decision to stay in the Basque Country.

But don’t get your hopes up for much movement.

Which players are they interested in?

At the moment there are no concrete targets for this month — though if a deal presents itself they may move.

There have been murmurs about the likes of Lyon winger Rayan Cherki, Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush and Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Jeremie Frimpong but all are unlikely.

Andy Robertson is the wrong side of 30 and the club may look to strengthen at left back but this is more likely one for the summer. Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and Alphonso Davies — who is available on a free in the summer when his Bayern Munich contract expires — are potential options.

Young Sheffield United forward Ryan One has been mentioned as a target but that is understood to be a non-starter.

Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush is a potential option, but a switch to Anfield is unlikely at this stage

Fulham’s Antonee Robinson caused Liverpool problems earlier this month, and could be targeted to provide competition for Andy Robertson

Who might leave?

Again, not a great deal of movement is forecast.

Many say Wataru Endo is not suited to Slot’s style and several clubs in England and abroad have kept an eye on him, but he is needed for midfield cover.

Young midfielder Tyler Morton is in a similar boat and was blocked from leaving last summer when Bayer Leverkusen put a promising loan offer on the table. The club wanted a fee of more than £20million to allow him to leave.

Striker Jayden Danns, 18, and midfielder James McConnell, 20, could go out on loan. That will depend on whether the right move comes up and if the current squad is not hampered by injuries in the coming weeks — Liverpool certainly think both are ready to play regular football.

Derby has been mooted as a potential destination for Danns, while Blackburn had their eye on McConnell in the summer and could reignite their interest in January — though both could get minutes against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup next weekend, so any decisions are unlikely to be made until then.

Winger Kaide Gordon, 20, has barely featured on his spell at Championship Norwich City and could be recalled this month.

Wataru Endo (left) has struggled for minutes, but is likely to be kept around for cover

What unexpected moves should fans keep an eye on?

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite was definitely a target in the summer as Liverpool considered strengthening in defence – especially with Joe Gomez open to leaving – but this deal was complicated.

Fans should keep an eye on a shock move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite

The Merseyside neighbours are in a better financial position now after their takeover by The Friedkin Group and will not be bullied into selling Branthwaite, especially this month.

Real Madrid are growing in confidence that they can sign Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer – but the chances of them paying a fee this month are virtually non-existent.

Ben Doak is impressing on loan at Middlesbrough and Mail Sport has been told a couple of higher-ranked clubs are keeping an eye on his situation with a desire to get him out of Liverpool – but nothing concrete has happened on that front.

Liverpool will likely spend the next month or so setting up moves for the summer and hold their nerve this window.