Liverpool must adopt fresh strategy to summer transfer window - two signings prove it
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Paul Gorst's weekend Blood Red column assesses whether Liverpool need to target some experience and leadership in the upcoming transfer windowIf there was a perception that the last two summers have been the beginning of new eras at Liverpool, it is surely 2026 that will see them really start a fresh cycle.While the arrival of Arne Slot to succeed Jurgen Klopp had the feel of a new chapter of club history, keeping the same squad intact fostered the sort of continuity that helped the Reds land the Premier League crown last time out.Last year, high player turnover caused many of those title-winning stars to leave and big-money signings to arrive in their place, but the coming weeks will finally draw a line in the sand for a glittering period of Anfield history.The departures of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson at the end of this month will leave just three from the squad built largely by Klopp in club captain Virgil van Dijk, goalkeeper Alisson Becker and the longest-serving player, Joe Gomez, who marks his 11th anniversary this year.Only skipper Van Dijk is guaranteed to be at the club when next season begins, though, and the intriguing situation regarding Alisson has developed quickly in recent days.The interest from Juventus appears genuine and the No.1 has a decision to make this summer as a result. Liverpool took the option to extend the Brazilian's contract by a year in March but that action likely served more to preserve the former Roma man's value.The end-of-season exits of Salah and Robertson affords the Redsl plenty of wriggle room this summer when it comes to what is a bloated wage bill that rose to £428m in the most recent accouns.Salah is the highest-earning player in Liverpool's history and Robertson was a hugely respected member of the squad when he signed his most recent contract in the summer of 2021, aged 27.That, then, means the Reds will have plenty of spare funds to plunder back into their wage bill this summer when rebuilding their squad.
The prospect of Alisson, another high-earner, also leaving provides plenty of scope for reshaping the group further.But while the potential is there for Liverpool to put more building blocks in place for what is hoped to be their next great team, what they are gaining in wage figures they are losing in experience and leadership, particularly if Alisson also exits.Giorgi Mamardashvili, Milos Kerkez and Alexander Isak might all reasonably be presumed to be the players signed to replace Alisson, Robertson and Salah when they eventually leave, but the Reds will undoubtedly need to bolster their forward line further this summer given Hugo Ekitike will be sidelined for months after rupturing his Achilles.It all points towards a Liverpool recruitment department driving the next phase of the "transition" Slot spoke of on Friday."We try to sign the best possible available player who we can afford," Slot said, adding: "Something else which also happens at certain clubs is: ‘OK, that is the best player in the world in that position, let’s try and get him.’"That is not how we work, we try and sign the best possible player who is available for us."The Reds' boss might have been trying to dampen expectations of another free-wheeling summer when the club broke their transfer record twice when signing £116m Florian Wirtz and £125m Isak but the genie is out of the bottle now."Three summers in one," was how last year's incredible outlay has been described inside Anfield but the club were able to recoup enough to the point that their net spend was actually less than Arsenal's, who find themselves chasing a Champions League and Premier League double with less than a month left to play.Slot is unable to try to present Liverpool as the sort of thrifty upstarts aiming to upset the established order when the club are able to boast revenues of over £700m just months after shattering their own transfer record twice.What were Isak and Wirtz in the Reds' eyes if not "the best player in the world in that position" when they broke the bank for both last year?Young players with high ceilings will inevitably be the order of the day but with so much experience exiting, Liverpool will need more characters who can help drive the culture in the dressing room.That might force the club to get creative in their efforts to replace Salah and Robertson's value behind the scenes.Van Dijk spoke last month of the need for the current crop to grow into the leadership voids that will be created as a result of the upheaval but there's a lot to be said for a smart signing in the mould of James Milner, who joined 11 years ago from Manchester City.To name a second example, Gary McAllister had an enormous hand in turning Gerard Houllier's talented but young squad into one that won the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup 25 years ago. The Scottish veteran was said to have had a profound impact, in particular, on a certain Steven Gerrard. who was preparing to turn 21.
The right character at an opportune juncture can have a immense effect.The profile of player who might attract the attention of the Reds has been sketched out for years, but this summer should perhaps force a rethink as the club prepare to say goodbye to some hugely influential figures.