Liverpool on high alert as long-term target is still open to exiting current club

Richard Hughes still has a fair few players to sign for Liverpool before he exits at the end of the summer transfer window.

Liverpool's sporting director probably thought that most of his hard work was done last summer after he spent over £450 million on new players.

Evidently, things didn't work out as planned and now, the Reds seem to be in a worse position than they were in during the 2024-25 campaign.

So, because of this, it's now clear that the Anfield outfit need to sign some new players to get them back on level terms with their title rivals.

Several positions among Liverpool's ranks could do with upgrading but, there's one in particular which needs bolstering as a matter of urgency.

Liverpool need a new right-back and Givairo Read has admitted that he could exit Feyenoord

Liverpool may have only just signed Jeremie Frimpong last summer but, his performances from the 2025-26 season proved that the Dutchman is not a right-back.

The sheer number of injuries he suffered have also made it feel like he's unreliable and, since Conor Bradley is also always on the treatment table, the Reds have rarely had a natural right-back available to them.

Denzel Dumfries and Lutsharel Geertruida were discussed as potential options in January 2026 but, since the Reds left it so late, they couldn't come to an agreement with either of their clubs.

This lack of depth in right-back led to Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones both being used there and, while they did well, it was clear that each of them much prefer being used as central midfielders.

And, now that the 2026-27 summer transfer window is upon us, talks of Liverpool signing a new right-back have re-emerged with one of their long-term targets Givairo Read sharing that he could still leave Feyenoord this summer.

"It could still go in any direction. But I don't feel like I have to leave or want to leave Feyenoord. Not at all, in fact," he said to De Telegraaf via Voetbal Primeur.

"I have a good feeling about the new manager," Read points to Giovanni van Bronckhorst. "And I haven't become a champion with Feyenoord yet. That is my goal, though."

Givairo Read would give Liverpool some extra support at the back

One of the main problems Liverpool faced last season was the lack of depth that they had.

As has been the case for the last few years with the Anfield outfit, a lot of their players ended up injured and out of action.

But, the main difference was, when Jurgen Klopp was in charge, he'd turn to his youth ranks for support but, when Slot was at the helm, he flat-out refused to trust any of Liverpool's youngsters aside from Rio Ngumoha, Kieran Morrison and Trey Nyoni.

Read is only 20 years old and, even though he's not won the Eredivisie with Feyenoord yet, the fact that he played 20 games across all competitions last term and contributed to five goals proves how good he actually is.

The Dutchman did have a hamstring injury which ruled him out for a decent chunk of the campaign but, it doesn't feel like that would be a recurring issue, at least, Liverpool will hope it isn't, anyway.

Szoboszlai and Jones can't be relied upon to plug the gap at right-back next term, no matter how much other areas of the Reds' team need upgrading.

But, if Liverpool could sign a young prospect such as Read, he could be a vital addition for them as it would allow Liverpool to have a natural right-back in defence and, when or if Bradley returns from injury, he may not be too upset about being second-choice, for now at least.

All of these things point to Read being a good signing and, the fact that he's opened the door to a possible departure proves that he could be ready to exit soon.