The summer of 2023 is an incredibly important one for the future of Liverpool.
As this article is written, the club is currently in sixth place in the Premier League table, out of both domestic competitions they won last season and are one foot out of the door in the Champions League, after being hammered 5-2 at Anfield by Real Madrid in the first leg. They were up 2-0 within the first 15 minutes.
The club have linked to a whole host of players for the past year, but fans remain in the dark about who really is on the radar this summer in what is essentially a rebuilding summer for Liverpool.
Three players I believe the club must target this summer are Jude Bellingham, Joško Gvardiol, and Nicolò Barella.
Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
The 19-year-old starlet should be the club's number-one transfer target to spearhead the revolution that the midfield needs.
Having impressed massively for Borussia Dortmund on the domestic and international stage since signing for them in 2020, Bellingham is set to be the subject of a massive transfer race this summer with Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Real Madrid all competing for his signature.
Out of all those clubs, Liverpool is certainly in desperate need of him and his seemingly endless talent.
Could the fact that his childhood hero was Steven Gerrard help the Reds in the chase? Perhaps, but the club must show ambition if they want to get back on top.
Joško Gvardiol (RB Leipzig)
The targeting of Gvardiol wasn't an obvious one a year ago given how Liverpool have been blessed with Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez.
However, Gomez's huge downturn in form this season coupled with Konate's niggling injuries means Liverpool's defensive performances this season has been shocking and in need of a transfer boost.
The Croatian centre-half is one of Europe's most wanted defenders after impressing at RB Leipzig since his debut in 2021.
The 21-year-old is blessed with speed and impressive physical attributes and an excellent outlet for his club given his passing prowess.
He hasn't been shy in talking about how he used to watch Liverpool games a lot with his father when he was young, and it almost seems like fate that he ends up at Anfield, but the club will certainly face a plethora of challenges to secure the defender.
Nicolò Barella (Inter Milan)
Alongside Jude Bellingham, Inter Milan's Nicolò Barella would be a sensational addition to the Liverpool midfield.
The Italian has consistently performed on a high level since joining the club in 2020 and has cemented his place among the midfield elite in Europe.
An all-round midfielder who is equally as effective in defence and attack, Barella shares some similarities to former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, who was a major part of the success the club has achieved in the last five years.
Out of the three players I've mentioned, Barella seems the most likely option given Inter Milan's financial struggles which have led them to sell their best players in recent years, like Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi.
Liverpool must recognise the importance of securing all three players and more as the club are in danger of falling behind the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur for the long-term.
