Liverpool spent the summer pursuing high profile transfer targets, whilst trying to retain their best player. How effective was their transfer window?
Liverpool have had a positive transfer window. Philippe Coutinho requested a move to Barcelona, but the ownership group, FSG, played hardball and he seems set to remain at the club. A top signing has already been lined up for next summer, and certain problem areas within the squad have been addressed. The Reds were unable to secure their main target, though, so will wonder what might have been.
Who came in?
Mohamed Salah was first through the Anfield front door, for a reported fee of £37 million (plus the inevitable add-ons). To secure a player who bagged 15 goals and 11 assists in a top European league last season for that price looks like a steal in the current transfer climate.
It’s not just the raw numbers that make Salah a brilliant acquisition though, it’s the pace and movement too. Liverpool looked chronically one-paced at times last season when Sadio Mané was absent. Salah should ensure the Reds always have at least one pacy wide-forward on the pitch, and ideally two.
The next two signings were less heralded but also look like decent business. Dom Solanke left Chelsea in pursuit of first team football, and based on the early weeks of this season he has made a good choice. With Origi out on loan, and Daniel Sturridge unlikely to be available every week, Solanke should see plenty of game time in 2017-18.
Andrew Robertson joined from Hull. He demonstrated in his debut exactly what he can bring to Liverpool’s problem position of left-back. As strange as it sounds, it’s a positive that he actually looks like a full-back. James Milner did reasonably well last year but was a novice in the position. Robertson looks the part, and his crossing ability makes him a new creative outlet for the Reds.
Liverpool also went a long way to ensuring they have a good summer transfer window in 2018. They agreed a deal for Naby Keita, paying a premium to ensure he will definitely sign. Of course they’d have preferred him to join this season had it been possible. His signing does at least ensure the stream of top talent heading to Anfield will continue for at least another 12 months.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was an intriguing deadline day addition. The Liverpool fanbase seem underwhelmed by the signing, yet he could bring something to the team. Last season he bettered all Reds players (pro-rata) in two important stats: creating clear-cut chances and completing dribbles. In the hectic campaign that lies ahead, the England international can play a number of different positions, so seems a sensible acquisition.
Versatile Ox. pic.twitter.com/qmyRKEcaCs
— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) August 31, 2017
No key players left Anfield
Despite his best efforts to engineer a move to Barcelona, Coutinho appears to be staying at the club. It remains to be seen how committed the Brazilian will be in 2017-18. With a World Cup at the end of it, chances are he will knuckle down and get back to his best.
The main departure, even though he hadn’t played for the club for a year, was Mamadou Sakho. He joined Crystal Palace, who he helped to keep up while on loan last season. A fee of £26 million for an unwanted player seems like decent business for Liverpool, even if transfer value is impossible to judge this summer.
Lucas Leiva has had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra. He has been swirling around the exit plug hole for more summers at Liverpool than anyone can care to recall. The Brazilian has always previously hung around for another year, but his run of survival is finally at an end.
The other two to leave permanently for a fee were Andre Wisdom and Kevin Stewart. The former hadn’t appeared for the Reds for almost four years after going on various loans, while the latter mainly played in domestic cup games last season. Neither player will be missed.
Divock Origi left on deadline day. The young Belgian has gone to Wolfsburg on loan, with the German side coughing up £6 million for the privilege. Origi has scored frequently enough but hasn’t convinced the Liverpool fanbase that he’s worthy of a place in the team. A loan move to continue his development looks like a sensible choice for all parties.
Next: The great managerial battle, round two
Liverpool’s summer business was satisfactory
Jürgen Klopp is not a manager who believes in buying players for the sake of it. The German manager has faith in his own ability to improve his existing playing staff. He has added some stars and very promising young players to the essential core of last season’s squad.
Klopp will rue Liverpool’s failure to acquire Virgil van Dijk. The move looked likely all summer, and the Dutchman would’ve added a great deal to the Reds’ fragile back line.
Liverpool look well set to compete for top prizes though. His summer business will leave the manager feeling reasonably satisfied overall.