Explained: Liverpool’s domestic options – and why it affects their transfer plans – Liverpool FC

Liverpool enter the transfer window and need to strengthen Arne Slott’s side in key areas, but must take into account the domestic rules of the Premier League.

Here we take a look at Liverpool’s domestic quota and what it could mean for their transfer plans.

What is a home player?

In the Premier League, a player is considered domestic when he has been registered with an English or Welsh club for a period of three seasons (or years) before his 21st birthday.

A club needs eight domestic players to register a full Premier League squad of 25 players – a maximum of 17 non-domestic players can be registered.

Players 21 years of age or younger may be domestic but need not be registered.

For the 2024/25 season U21 players will be born on or after January 1, 2003.

Which domestic players are already in the senior squad?

While Liverpool entered the 2023/24 campaign with six home-grown players registered for the Premier League, it was reduced to Fri following Paul Glatzel’s January transfer to Swindon Town.

That leaves Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, Kevin Kelleher and Vitezslav Jarošwith three vacancies.

However, there are question marks over the futures of both Kelleher and Jaros, with both goalkeepers expected to attract interest from elsewhere as they sit behind Alisson in the pecking order.

Either – or both – club exits would require additional domestic registration options to name a full Premier League squad.

Who else could be added?

However, Liverpool already have a number of eligible home-grown players, including three who have only just become eligible since this summer.

Fabio Carvalho, Owen Beck and Tyler Morton they are now required to be named as senior players rather than U21s, and if they remain part of Slott’s squad they would fill the domestic quota.

Other options include centre-backs Nat Phillips, Sepp van den Berg, Billy Koumetio and Rhys Williamsbut all four are expected to leave the club on a permanent basis, as is the midfielder Tom Hill.

Liverpool Home Players: Alexander-Arnold, Beck, Carvalho, Gomez, Hill, Jaros, Jones, Kelleher, Koumetio, Phillips, Pitaluga, Van den Berg, Williams

Goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga he is also now eligible as a domestic, but his loan at St Patrick’s Athletic runs until the end of the year.

The likes of Harvey Elliott, Conor Bradley, Stefan Bajčetić, Bobby Clark and Ben Doak could be registered as home-grown – and some could be in the Champions League due to differences in UEFA rules – but that would take up space normally reserved for taller players.

What does this mean for Liverpool’s transfer window?

Put simply, if Liverpool plan to go into a season busier than ever with a squad big enough to compete, they will need to fill their domestic quota with genuine quality.

This is likely to influence their decision-making process when it comes to signing players in key positions such as centre-back, defensive midfield and right wing.

Reported interest in Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi is a prime example, with the England international not only fit for the first team but also as a domestic in the Premier League and Champions League.

In contrast, every move for defender Lille Leny Yoro it would not affect the domestic situation in the league because the Frenchman is only 18 years old and therefore does not have to be registered.

However, if Yoro were to move to Merseyside, he would take up a senior place in the Champions League squad – although that is a question for another day.

By the same token, while domestic qualification is expected to partly dictate Liverpool’s signing plans, it could also force tough decisions on which players are allowed to leave.

For example, it is unlikely that both Kelleher and Jaros will leave in the same summer without another home-grown goalkeeper coming in.

Southampton’s veteran stopper Alex McCarthywho will be a free agent when his contract expires in July, could be one such solution, especially if Adrian moves on.

How many non-domestic seats are left?

Liverpool will also look beyond their pool of eligible domestic players, with Riccardo Calafiori, Yohan Bakayoko and Brian Mbeumo already linked.

There are currently 14 non-domestic players in the senior team, and a maximum of 17 players are allowed in the Premier League.

It would, in theory, allow it three more foreign players will be signed this summer – or more if they replace someone else, such as Luis Diaz, on his way out.

Much will depend on Slott keeping the likes of Jaros, Beck, Morton and Carvalho, all of whom have yet to establish themselves as genuine first-team options but have the potential to do so.

But it highlights the delicate balance for Richard Hughes and the transfer staff to watch out for – because it’s not always as simple as signing the best players available.