Liverpool handed massive boost in transfer tug of war for new defender

Liverpool’s pursuit of defensive reinforcements has received a timely shot in the arm after fresh developments in Italy suggested that long-time target Denzel Dumfries could be on the move this summer. Calcio Mercato reports that relations between the Netherlands international and Inter Milan are “nearing its end,” clearing a path for the Premier League giants to reignite their interest when the window reopens.

The Merseysiders explored multiple right-back options in the final days of the January window, with both Dumfries and Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida floated as potential solutions. Neither deal materialised, leaving Arne Slot to assess his squad ahead of the next recruitment cycle. Yet the landscape has shifted dramatically: Dumfries has appointed new representation and, according to the Italian outlet, harbours a “well-known desire” to test himself in English football.

While Liverpool’s recent transfer policy has skewed toward emerging talents—exemplified by links to Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez—club chiefs are understood to value the balance that seasoned campaigners provide. At 29, Dumfries bucks the youthful trend, but his 41 senior international caps and extensive Champions League experience could complement a dressing-room core already rich in Dutch influence. Integrating the PSV Eindhoven graduate alongside fellow Oranje internationals would ease his adaptation and, crucially, accelerate the development of younger full-backs such as Conor Bradley and rumoured target Jeremie Frimpong.

Financially, the deal appears palatable. Dumfries’ contract at the Giuseppe Meazza expires in 2028, placing Inter under pressure to cash in before his value depreciates. A modest fee, coupled with manageable wage demands, aligns with the club’s fiscally prudent approach under the new sporting hierarchy.

Calcio Mercato stresses that the player’s revamped agency team must still formally revive Liverpool’s interest, yet with the defender pushing for an exit, the Reds have been handed what sources describe as a “massive boost” in the looming tug of war. Months remain before the market swings open, but Anfield insiders anticipate another summer of strategic turnover as Slot continues to shape a squad capable of challenging on multiple fronts.