Liverpool transfer news: Arne Slot's squad depth assessed after Harvey Elliott Aston Villa exit trims Premier League winners

Liverpool took the approach of quality over quantity this summer, Reds transfer expert David Lynch has insisted.

At the closure of the transfer window on September 1, the Premier League champions had spent in excess of £400m, twice breaking the record for the most expensive addition to the league.

A number of stars also left the club, with Harvey Elliott one of nine permanent exits, though the Englishman's deadline day transfer to Aston Villa was a loan with an obligation to buy.

Despite some supporters being concerned about the number of exits, Lynch claimed that Liverpool pursued a policy of quality over quantity, when he told Sports Mole: "What they've got at the moment is a bit less depth than last season in terms of pure numbers. They had six forwards last season, and they are now down to five.

"That's the one area where I'd have a little bit of a question mark, but undeniably what Liverpool have done is, they've gone down in terms of the numbers, but the quality level has gone up with Isak and Ekitike coming in. Florian Wirtz is more of a midfielder than an attacker, but he can do bits up front as well.

"Creatively, in terms of goal scoring, Wirtz will bring so much to this team. It's going to be a test of whether quality over quantity works for them, and I do think keeping Chiesa around - which happened in a way by accident - has worked in their favour."

The Reds were eliminated in the round of 16 of the Champions League last term, and if they manage to advance further into the knockouts, their squad depth will be tested more.

Elliott exit: Could transfer sales hurt Arne Slot this Premier League season?

Elliott may still have a future at Anfield given the club have a buy-back clause, and perhaps allowing him to regularly feature at another Premier League team will help him realise his potential.

The Englishman was often able to contribute from the bench in past campaigns, while the likes of centre-back Jarell Quansah was challenging Ibrahima Konate for a starting spot in 2023-24.

Lynch expressed his view that Liverpool will not be hurt by their exits from the club this summer, telling Sports Mole: "The one thing I'd say with Harvey Elliott is he made his first Premier League start under Slot after Liverpool had won the title. I've seen suggestions that [his exit] hurt the depth, but I don't agree with that. The manager clearly didn't fancy him.

"Liverpool have got other options who can play in [multiple positions] as well. Frimpong is being talked up as a definite option up front, and maybe you could see a bit of Rio Ngumoha out wide.

"Maybe we'll see more of a 4-4-2 so that you don't necessarily have a right-winger. Of course, in the attacking midfield role, Florian Wirtz has been signed and Dominik Szoboszlai is still at the club. It was impossible to see Elliott getting minutes, so I don't think his or others' sales have hurt Liverpool too badly."

Elliott and Quansah only played a combined 866 minutes for Slot in the Premier League in 2024-25, and while the club have lost a number of players, they still kept many of the first-team stars that won them the title.

Should Liverpool have signed a backup to Ryan Gravenberch?

Though it is difficult to criticise Liverpool's ambition in the transfer market given their expenditure, there is an argument that they should have signed a backup to Ryan Gravenberch.

The midfielder was utilised as a number six last season - an almost entirely new position for him - and his form did suffer towards the end of 2024-25.

Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch pushed back against suggestions that the Reds should have signed a midfielder, saying: "I don't understand the Gravenberch argument. There seems to be a very online obsession about a defensive midfielder, with people crying out to sign one. I would not take him out of the team for any money.

"He's a truly elite level holding midfielder and he's very young. He's going to get even better. In terms of cover for him, if you acknowledge he is of that level, that you can't take him out of the team like Salah and Van Dijk, then your cover is never going to be anywhere near the required level.

"You've got Wataru Endo coming in to take up minutes, and he's about right for what you would want there as a backup. I don't think there's a depth issue. Gravenberch did feel the heat of the season a little bit towards the end of last term, but it was the most intense season of his life."

Gravenberch had started just 12 Premier League games in 2023-24, whereas he started 37 times in 2024-25, and perhaps he will be able to maintain his level across the 2025-26 campaign now that he has experienced a full season as a first-choice player.

> Click here to listen to the full discussion on whether Liverpool's squad is weaker following the exit of Harvey Elliott to Aston Villa