Virgil van Dijk believes that Liverpool's first-team squad needs strengthening with "quality imports" ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
After coming close to winning an unprecedented quadruple last season before ultimately getting their hands on an FA Cup and EFL Cup double, the Reds have fallen some distance behind their rivals across all competitions this term and are set to end the current campaign trophyless.
Jurgen Klopp's men were knocked out of the Champions League last 16 by Real Madrid on Wednesday, losing 6-2 on aggregate, while they crashed out of both domestic cup competitions earlier this year.
In the Premier League, Liverpool currently sit sixth in the table and a staggering 24 points behind leaders Arsenal, and they now face a battle to qualify for the top four as they sit four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
A number of outgoings are expected at Anfield in the summer, with Roberto Firmino having already confirmed he will leave as a free agent, while James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are all out of contract in June.
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Klopp has already acknowledged that the Reds need to make significant alterations in the summer transfer window, telling Sky Sports News: "We will have transfer business, obviously. We have to, 100%. In the summer, we have to make changes and everybody knows that.
"It will happen, but how much? That's not in my hands. We are obviously in constant talks so everybody knows exactly what we need."
Van Dijk, who has spent just over five years at Anfield following his £75m move in January 2018, has concurred with his manager, telling reporters as quoted by The Athletic: "Obviously players are going to leave. That's obviously been announced so we have to, if we want to be where we have been the last five years, we need quality imports, especially with those players leaving.
"I think that's quite obvious but everyone knows that's going to be very difficult. It is going to be very difficult to find the right players but the club has to do their job in this case.
"We still have a lot of games to play for us and we want to be in the Champions League. I think that will also help to attract the best players in the world. Not all the time but it will definitely help."
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Alternations in attack have already taken place over the last eight months, with Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo arriving at Anfield in the last two transfer window for a combined fee in excess of £100m.
Midfield additions are set to be at the top of Liverpool's list of priorities in the summer, and owners Fenway Sports Group – led by John W Henry – have allegedly promised that funds will be available to bolster the squad.
Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham, who is set to become one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe ahead of next season.
The 19-year-old is valued at €150m (£133.1m) by Dortmund and is understood to have scheduled a meeting with the Bundesliga outfit to discuss his future during the international break, with the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid set to rival Liverpool for his signature.
The Reds have also been credited with an interest in RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, although a recent report claims that they unlikely to win the race for the highly-rated Croatian.
Oliver Thomas
