I don’t think we need to sign anyone, but that’s a good time to do so as you can strengthen rather than replace.
Question marks for this summer around the backup keepers, will Adrian be renewed again? Will Kelleher want to move on? Is there a keeper to step up from the academy, maybe Mzorek for one of those positions? How many keepers we need depends on the answers to them? My guess would be we sign one and promote one, as Adrian will leave and it’ll probably be the best summer to sell Kelleher. Wouldn’t be surprised about Kelleher staying though.
Also questions on Tsimikas and his suitability to the formation going forward. I like him as a player but looking at what Slot might do, I think we’ll be sticking with a more defensive full back on the left which isn’t suited to Kostas’s game.
We’ve got a good set of four centre back for next year probably need five. Whether we sign one or not probably depends on what happens to Matip and Van den Berg.
Lots of questions around DM, which could lead to us signing one. Where will Mac Allister be deployed? Will Arne trust Endo as a starter or see him more as a squad player? How much faith is there in Bajcetic for next season, will he need a loan? How do we rate Morton? Will McConnell get a loan or be around the squad? I can see us signing one, but only if Mac Allister is used further forward.
The other player who impacts the DM decision is Trent, if he’s moved into midfield, playing as 6 could where be the position, in which case we may need a RB, but that depends on our faith in Bradley and Ramsay, and the type of full back we’d want. If Trent is still at right back then that doesn’t cover the midfield if we need one.
Another reason we might need a midfielder depends on what happens with Szoboszlai and Elliott. One or both could be moved to primarily be used in the front line especially if Salah leaves, with Carvalho another option that could be added. If they both remain midfield options we likely need a right wing option, if they move then we could need a CM. Some of that decision will depend on Doak too.
I’ve got a suspicion that Elliott and Mac Allister will be our RCM options, Jones and Gravenberch on the other side, Endo and Bajcetic as DM options and Clark kept about for additional cover. Szoboszlai suits a forward role under Slot in my opinion with some cover brought in for that too if we Salah goes, although that sounds like we’d want to keep him, so any signing would be a seventh option.
The key decisions for me are around Trent and Salah. They plan for them determines the summer business most likely, from what I can tell.
If I was to guess, we sell Salah, lock down Trent and van Dijk to new contracts, move Trent to the 6, and look to mainly bring in a left back and a right winger.