The wait for No 20 is over and Liverpool are Premier League champions again.

But the chase for No 21 starts now and Liverpool have already gotten a huge headstart on their rivals.

Jeremie Frimpong is on his way, Florian Wirtz should not be too far behind and the Reds will not stop there.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold headed to Real Madrid, Liverpool has taken significant steps to secure Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk with new contracts. This allows them to concentrate on strengthening the squad to defend their title.

Here, our Liverpool expert LEWIS STEELE answers all the key questions for the champions in the transfer market this summer. 

The wait for No 20 is over and Liverpool are Premier League champions again

Liverpool made the crucial moves to tie down Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to new deals

What do Liverpool need this summer? 

As Premier League champions, it’s difficult to pinpoint any position as a ‘need,’ yet Liverpool is anticipating a busy summer.

Last year, they only brought in one player, Chiesa, who started just one Premier League match this season. Manager Slot decided to maintain the core left by Jurgen Klopp. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be surprising to see four or five new additions this summer.

Florian Wirtz is primed to join from Bayer Leverkusen this summer

Darwin Nunez is likely to leave Anfield after three years to raise cash

Andy Robertson is now the wrong side of 30 and Kostas Tsimikas is not seen as a long-term replacement so left back could do with an upgrade. The same can be said about right back with Alexander-Arnold leaving – but that is already sorted with Frimpong joining.

Wirtz is primed to follow him from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool and, after that, the Reds will step up a pursuit for a No 9 and a central defender, with Darwin Nunez likely to leave to raise cash.

How big is their budget and is PSR a major concern?

There are no major concerns on PSR and Liverpool have a healthy budget going into this summer.

That, of course, could be obliterated should they pull off a deal for Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen. The German will command a huge transfer fee even if the Reds manage to haggle it down from the £126million Leverkusen want.

Giorgi Mamardashvili will join for £29m this summer in a deal that was agreed last summer

Fans are worried over the time the Wirtz deal is taking but this is a complex move that was never going to be straightforward in terms of its finances. Liverpool are confident and things are heading in the right direction for a club-record move, no matter how long it takes. 

Given that last summer they only spent the £10m they paid for Chiesa – and the £29m they will pay for Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, in a deal that was signed last year – the money is definitely not a problem.

Who are they interested in?

As mentioned above Frimpong will join the club for around £30m after completing a medical. That one should be announced when the transfer window opens on Sunday.

They will this week step up their pursuit of his Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Florian Wirtz in what would be a statement signing. The German, it is understood, is extremely keen on a move to England and Liverpool are growing in confidence in getting him.

Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez is another that they like and, now the season is over, that one will accelerate

Jarrad Branthwaite has been mooted as a potential signing but it seems a big ask to get Everton to sell to Liverpool

RB Leipzig Benjamin Sesko has been linked with a move to Liverpool

Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez is another that they like and, now the season is over, that one will accelerate. The Cherries want about £45m but Liverpool will hope to do a deal for less and personal terms should not be a problem. That could mean three are through the door before mid-June.

They also liked Kerkez’s Bournemouth pal Dean Huijsen but he is off to Real Madrid for £50m. Jarrad Branthwaite has been mooted as a potential signing but it seems a big ask to get Everton to sell to Liverpool.

Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt), Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig) and Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid) have all been linked as No 9s.

Which young players could break out next season to fill gaps in the first-team squad?

Good question. There are no real gaps to fill and a lot depends on outgoings but here are a few who could…

James McConnell was namechecked by Arne Slot in January when he put in a superb display in the Champions League at PSV Eindhoven. Mail Sport reported at the time how a new contract is in the works for the former Sunderland kid.

He could definitely be given a chance to impress on the pre-season tour, though is nursing an injury at the moment.

Rio Ngumoha was the hottest name in academy circles this time last year after Liverpool poached the ‘most talented kid at Chelsea’ – John Terry’s words – and handed him a first-team debut this season.

Jayden Danns did not play a single minute on his loan at Sunderland due to a long-standing back injury. It feels like another loan would be the best move for him next year.

James McConnell was namechecked by Arne Slot in January when he put in a superb display in the Champions League at PSV Eindhoven

Rio Ngumoha was the hottest name in academy circles this time last year after Liverpool poached the ‘most talented kid at Chelsea’

Midfielder Trey Nyoni is another young Liverpool star who Slot likes

Trey Nyoni is another who Slot likes and don’t forget returning loanees, especially Stefan Bajcetic.

After excelling at Las Palmas, it would be nice to see him get some game time on tour in Asia this summer.

Which players are set to leave?

Caoimhin Kelleher confirmed his desire to be a No 1 again on Sunday and Liverpool will not stand in his way if the price is right. They want around £25m with Brentford, Leeds, Bournemouth and West Ham among those keen.

Nunez looks set to depart. Saudi Arabian outfits are keeping tabs after having an approach to sign him in January knocked back, with Atletico Madrid and sides in Italy also monitoring his situation.

Harvey Elliott was in tears at Anfield this weekend and has gone on the record hinting that this could be the end of the road for him, as much as he hates to admit it.

Wirtz’s arrival will probably accelerate that and a number of sides in England and Germany are keen.

Tsimikas could leave if Kerkez signs and Leeds are among those keeping an eye on the Greek full back.

A few clubs are sniffing around Jarell Quansah, while Joe Gomez has barely featured – even when fit – this season so it would not be a surprise if Liverpool’s longest-serving player moves on.

Caoimhin Kelleher confirmed his desire to be a No 1 again on Sunday and Liverpool will not stand in his way if the price is right

Harvey Elliott was in tears at Anfield this weekend and has gone on the record hinting that this could be the end of the road for him at Liverpool

Joe Gomez has barely featured – even when fit – this season so it would not be a surprise if Liverpool’s longest-serving player moves on

In terms of the forwards, Barcelona like Luis Diaz and Bayern Munich want Cody Gakpo. Whether Liverpool want to sell, though, is a different story.

Some youth players, like Tyler Morton, look set to also depart. Bayer Leverkusen offered Morton the chance to move there on loan last season but Liverpool blocked it – his value has arguably decreased in the year since but the Reds will still want a decent fee.

Returning loanees Owen Beck (who was at Blackburn) and Lewis Koumas (Stoke) also have suitors for permanent deals.

Ben Doak is attracting Premier League clubs like Everton, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace. Liverpool would want about £30m for the Scottish winger.