Even though Liverpool look set to run away with the Premier League title in Arne Slot’s first season in charge, the Reds are in a state of concern regarding three of their top players and their futures. Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are all free to leave when their contracts expire this summer, with the right-back reportedly closer to the Anfield door than his two team-mates.

But there are also other areas in the side expected to be improved upon as Slot makes his first real foray into the transfer market, having only dipped his toe in last year. Here, Express Sport looks at four players who could arrive at the Premier League champions in waiting next season.

Hugo Ekitike

With Darwin Nunez’s time on Merseyside edging closer to an end, a new striker could be brought in to compliment the likes of Salah, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota.

A more direct forward, in a similar mould to Nunez as opposed to the false 9s of Gakpo and Diaz, would add more variety to Slot’s attack and that could arrive in the form of Ekitike.

The Frenchman has scored 18 times for Eintracht Frankfurt this season having rebuilt his career over the past year following a torrid spell at Paris Saint-Germain. The Bundesliga club reportedly expect him to leave in the summer and value him at £66m.

Jorrel Hato

A versatile centre-back-cum-full-back has quickly become a very valuable possession in the Premier League, with Manchester City and Arsenal paying through the nose to sign the likes of Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori in recent years.

Ajax wonderkid Hato is of the same mould and could provide both left-back cover and a long-term successor to Van Dijk.

He is being primed as a star of the future and Liverpool face a host of competition to land the £40m-rated defender. But it would be an exciting proposition for Hato with many of his international colleagues already on Merseyside.

Amar Dedic

With Alexander-Arnold expected to leave for sunny Spain, a new right-back is likely to be on the horizon to compete with Conor Bradley.

The current back-up is set to be handed a mega new contract but competition for the Northern Ireland star would be deemed necessary.

They could look to Jurgen Klopp and the Red Bull system for a new right-back, with Amar Dedic at RB Salzburg a very promising prospect.

He is 22 and also comfortable playing at left-back, giving him further opportunities to both compete with and play alongside Bradley. He would likely cost no more than £20m.