Managing Liverpool - Mohamed Salah concern, £35m transfer and panic buying risk

A summer of transfer hope and expectation for Liverpool supporters hasn't matched its pre-season expectations. It was never a given that the Reds would jump into the market and bolster each department within the squad.

"After the flurry there was in June, it will calm down a little bit now for the month of July," sporting director Richard Hughes during Arne Slot's first press conference. "And then like always, when August starts and coaches have had more time to work with players, I think then the opinions will be more set at football clubs.

"You may see a situation in August, like in previous seasons, there’s a little bit of a hurry to get things done and make sure everyone’s squads are in order." With Liverpool's Premier League season getting underway on Saturday, there will be no new additions in the squad and it remains to be seen whether there will be a mad dash before the window slams shut on August 30.

And here the ECHO takes a look at what Liverpool should do in the coming weeks and months.

Panic buy scepticism

Liverpool are being opportunistic in the market, the new sporting director said so much himself, but disappointment was cast over their business when it emerged that Martin Zubimendi turned down an approach from the Reds to stay at Real Sociedad. The new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot confirmed that the 25-year-old rejected a move to Merseyside, thus ending the hunt for his first transfer target.

The Dutchman is aware of the quality he has at his disposal but it doesn't necessarily mean he will be satisfied. In the same breath, nor does it mean there will be rushing into a move. Slot said on Friday: "I've said many times already our squad is really strong and it's not easy to find players who can help us or strengthen the squad. Zubimendi was one of them to be fair but he decided not to come. We go forward with the ones we have. We are in a good place.

"In the background Richard is trying to strengthen the squad as he can, unfortunately Zubimendi decided not to come. He did every effort and tried everything to bring him in but if a player doesn't want to come, it's obvious he's not coming."

In reality, the business has been left too late by Liverpool but they need to strengthen the squad. But if clubs get a scent of desperation from Liverpool, there is the possibility of paying over the odds for a player and by now, Liverpool are not panic buyers compared to the likes of Chelsea or previously Manchester United.

If there are no suitable options or opportunistic signings on the market, Liverpool should simply hold off despite the bitter taste left by Zubimendi's snub.

£35m Giorgi Mamardashvili deal

Liverpool have also made a surprise move in the goalkeeping department after reports of interest in Valencia and Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili intensified.

The Reds have been masters of contingency plans in previous years and although the threat of Alisson Becker leaving is slowly rising, it never appeared set in stone that the Brazilian would exit the club. In the department there has been speculation over the future of Caoimhin Kelleher as he looks for first-team football but interest in Alisson has only emerged in the last 12 months following the rise in Saudi Arabian business.

Liverpool should do the deal to sign the 23-year-old. They would not only be getting a highly-rated shot-stopper, but it would also avoid the problem before it began to develop. The concern would be where would his development best be served and a Premier League loan would definitely bed him into the physicality of top-flight football in England.

Triple contract concern as Van Dijk, Salah and Alexander-Arnold face uncertainty

There are also more important matters within the squad. This week, Slot was filmed sharing a joke with Trent Alexander-Arnold as the Liverpool defender looked to defy the belief of the newly appointed tactician.

Week-by-week, the Dutchman will see how important in matches the Reds academy graduate can be but on a daily basis he will see his quality. How long the contract uncertainty will go on for before it turns into a saga is unknown but tying down the 25-year-old may be the biggest transfer decision Liverpool face this season.

Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah both face the prospect of leaving on free transfers next summer. Salah has looked sharp and offered a cutting edge in pre-season, in the upcoming campaign he will be chasing down a record-extending fourth season of hitting double-figures in the goals and assists tally.

Eventually, the Egyptian will be replaced but as it stands, there appears to be no inkling of a changing of the guard at right-wing. And the pair have been, and, are integral at both ends of the pitch and although Slot wouldn't disclose the discussions in public, the silence will soon become deafening unless there is a resolution.