Liverpool nagging transfer suspicion remains as Richard Hughes move telling

The ECHO looks at the mid-season transfer window and how Liverpool have fared

It's all over. The January transfer window, as is customary, was slammed shut on Monday evening with Liverpool having essentially made no changes to the first-team squad available to Arne Slot.

Some younger players were recalled from loans, others were moved on elsewhere. But despite interest in both Andy Robertson and Curtis Jones, the Reds resisted any temptation to cash in on players.

There was a failed attempt to bring in Lutsharel Geertruida from Sunderland on loan, while a £60million deal was agreed with Rennes to sign Jeremy Jacquet in the summer.

But was that enough? Our ECHO writers take a look...

Ian Doyle

There was a little insight into the mind of some football supporters when, on announcement Liverpool had brokered an agreement for Jeremy Jacquet, among the first questions being asked was whether there would be any more arrivals.

Too much is not enough. But there was genuine concern behind the enquiry given the lack of options, particularly at right-back, in the Reds squad at present.

Indeed, Liverpool showed their hand a bit with the attempt to sign Lutsharel Geertruida, although that was always a bit of a long shot. But with no new signings incoming, the Reds will have to go with what they have got.

The deal for Jacquet shows Richard Hughes and the recruitment team have very much remained on the look-out during the January window, although it isn't in the style of Fenway Sports Group to pursue short-term options. The fortunes of Ben Davies, Ozan Kabak and Arthur Melo are proof of that.

Nevertheless, there is a nagging doubt that just one more defensive option, either at right-back or centre-back, could make a massive difference.

To be fair, only Manchester City made any significant moves in the window, but they have the financial clout to fix problems that Liverpool - and indeed most clubs - simply cannot.

Arne Slot will now back himself, his players, the fitness staff and, of course, Lady Luck to deliver over the next four months. They're going to have to.

Richard Garnett

Liverpool have been in urgent need of defensive reinforcements and they appear to have finally landed their man with the £60m capture of French centre-back Jeremy Jacquet. The only problem is, he can't kick a ball for the club until next season.

It certainly strikes as a long-term strategic investment and hopefully the 20-year-old can be the eventual successor to Virgil van Dijk. For the club to be prepared to spend such significant money on a player so young suggests he should be the real deal.

In the meantime, the Reds have failed to land any defensive reinforcements to help get them through the second half of this season. Only time will tell whether that was a risk worth taking, with Champions League qualification in the balance and of paramount importance.

Allowing summer target Marc Guehi to join rivals Manchester City has frustrated supporters, but the huge outlay for Jacquet suggests that Richard Hughes and the recruitment team saw better value in making a signing for the future rather than one for right now.

Meanwhile, the noise around possible exits for both Andy Robertson and Curtis Jones eventually went away and thank goodness for that. Losing either player at this point in the campaign would only have resulted in weakening Arne Slot's hand at a time when it needs to be strengthened.

Another player who has stayed put is Mohamed Salah. The bust-up he had with Slot before AFCON appears to now be water under the bridge - at least on the surface - and he will have a hugely important role to play in the second half of the season.

He will be desperate to make a success out of what has been a rollercoaster campaign so far, because this could be the last four months of his illustrious Liverpool career.

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