Inside Liverpool's plans for total dominance in the wake of the Reds' Premier League triumph - and the top transfer targets that can secure their 21st title
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Arne Slot indulged in a couple of beers to celebrate Liverpool’s Premier League victory last Sunday, but resisted a full-blown party. He needed to be in great shape for the next morning.

Why? Because it was his wife Mirjam’s birthday. He couldn’t risk being hungover since he planned to take her and their kids, Joep and Isa, out for lunch before returning to their home in Zwolle.

The children returned to school on Tuesday, and in a way, the Liverpool manager resumed his duties too. Although it was officially a day off, he visited Anfield to retrieve his car alongside his right-hand man, Sipke Hulshoff, and snapped a picture of the revamped ’20’ sign in the tunnel.

But aside from reading the nice texts, Slot was already plotting how to ensure this title is not just a one-off but the springboard to create a dynasty at home and on the continent. Here is what he and sporting director Richard Hughes are planning.

The first thing to say is that life is not worth living if you do not celebrate the highs – so Slot and Co are rich in the understanding that enjoying this trophy triumph holds more importance than getting on the phone to potential transfer targets.

Arne Slot has guided Liverpool to the Premier League title in his first season at the club

Arne Slot has guided Liverpool to the Premier League title in his first season at the club

The Reds sealed the title with a comfortable home victory over Tottenham last Sunday

The Reds sealed the title with a comfortable home victory over Tottenham last Sunday 

Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes, left, are working on strengthening the squad

Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes, left, are working on strengthening the squad

But this in itself is perceived as a draw for new signings. Winning the Premier League and all the celebrations are seen as a reason why Liverpool are an attractive club. Come play for us and you can be part of this next year.

Slot said on Friday how this title gives him ‘the why’ to sell to both current and prospective new players, saying: ‘It helps to attract new players as the ones we want, we are not the only club who think they are good. This helps them to see that the way we do things over here is special.’

At the last count, Liverpool have been linked with more than 30 players for this summer by reports at home and on the continent. They have a fair budget this summer but it is certainly not that big!

Mail Sport understands, though, that at least one forward and a new left back are the priorities. Aside from that, they could target a central defender and right back if Trent Alexander-Arnold joins Real Madrid as is expected.

Liverpool never settle and always want to improve, which has been a theme for decades. In a column in these pages earlier this season, Graeme Souness recalled: ‘Nothing has changed at Liverpool.

‘When I returned there as manager, I had a conversation with Tom Saunders, who had been right-hand man to Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish.

‘Tom relayed a story that Bob, on a regular basis, would say, “I’m not happy with him, then… I think we can do better in that position, then… I think he’s tailing off…” And these were comments about a team that was winning a league title or European Cup every year.

‘So they were never completely happy with the group they had and that was a large part of Liverpool’s success over the decades.’

Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has already agreed to join Liverpool this summer

Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has already agreed to join Liverpool this summer

Ajax’s Jorrel Hato is being discussed as left back option with Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez

Ajax’s Jorrel Hato is being discussed as left back option with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez

Defender Dean Huijsen has a £50million release clause

Antoine Semenyo is another Bournemouth player of interest to Liverpool

Bournemouth duo Dean Huijsen and Antoine Semenyo are players of interest to Liverpool

The Reds have already started succession planning for Alisson, for example, despite the fact the Brazilian has a clause in his deal that can trigger a contract extension until 2027. Georgia No 1 Giorgi Mamardashvili, 24, will sign from Valencia for £25m plus £4m this summer.

Left back is another position they are actively looking to upgrade, with 31-year-old Andy Robertson entering the final year of his deal. Milos Kerkez of Bournemouth is being courted but would command a hefty fee of £45m, while Ajax’s Jorrel Hato has also been discussed.

The Cherries have two other players of interest for Liverpool in defender Dean Huijsen, who has a £50m release clause, and Antoine Semenyo. Huijsen will move on this summer with Chelsea also keen and Reds defender Ibrahima Konate is also out of contract next year.

The Reds’ scouting department are scouring the market far and wide with observers present at RB Leipzig on Saturday – Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko could be on the agenda – plus it is understood they have watched players at Real Betis and River Plate in Argentina recently.

A forward is firmly on the agenda with Darwin Nunez likely to leave this summer. Luis Diaz is also maneuvering for a new deal so, with him and others, Liverpool must balance keeping a ceiling on their wage structure and also planning for the future.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike has been watched – he has scored 22 goals and made 10 assists this season and thus, like other targets, would not be cheap.

Reports have linked them with all and sundry in recent weeks, like Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, but they – like many names that the rumour mill chugs out – are not on the shortlist at this stage.

But going into the summer, one point should be remembered: Liverpool transfer guru Hughes is a smooth operator that deserves mass credit alongside Slot for the first year of the new regime at Anfield. 

John Henry (left) at Anfield after the title-clinching win over Tottenham back in April

John Henry (left) at Anfield after the title-clinching win over Tottenham back in April

Liverpool will have observers at RB Leipzig's match this week with Benjamin Sesko of possible interest

Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike has been watched by Liverpool

RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike are forwards being watched

Liverpool's interest in a forward comes with Darwin Nunez expected to leave the club

Liverpool’s interest in a forward comes with Darwin Nunez expected to leave the club

He inherited a situation with his best three players out of contract and has extended two of those – Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk – despite the long-running saga in both of those cases.

More importantly than that was the fact he chose Slot as his No 1 candidate and oversaw the smooth process in replacing Jurgen Klopp.

Any talk of a ‘transfer war chest’ is slightly over-egging the situation but Liverpool have the money and they will spend it. 

Title No 20 is wrapped up and they will celebrate that but, in the corridors of power at Anfield, they are already planning for a happy 21st next year.

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