A key aspect of Liverpool’s transfer business in recent times has been the habit of supplementing the kitty with sales.
From Neco Williams to the likes of Jordon Ibe, Rhian Brewster and Dominic Solanke, the Reds have been able to significantly increase the pool by offloading players who were often on the fringes of Jurgen Klopp’s first team over the last five years or so.
Players such as Harry Wilson (£12m), Marko Grujic (£10m) and Danny Ward (£12m) have all been deemed surplus to requirements in Klopp’s time before bringing in relatively sizeable sums.
Since the summer of 2019, when Liverpool entered the summer months as European champions, the club have been able to bank a total of around £85m for those whose first-team opportunities were always going to be limited. A further £98m has been made through the departures of more established stars such as Sadio Mane, Xherdan Shaqiri, Dejan Lovren, Simon Mignolet, Danny Ings and Takumi Minamino.
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For a club whose terms and conditions are so closely tied to the self-supporting model imposed, rightly or wrongly, by the owners of the Fenway Sports Group, such a way of operating is a vital source of revenue when it comes to player trading.
Indeed, such has been Liverpool’s adept ability to negotiate agreeable terms for the departed players that former sporting director Michael Edwards was once said to have had a Premier League opponent kneel at his feet in light-hearted admiration for having managed to execute. a specific agreement.
However, with the 2023 summer transfer window now officially open, key figures in the recruitment department may take a cursory glance at the entire squad and assume there are fewer salable assets this time around.
And with the Reds set to be without the bounty that comes with qualification for the Champions League in the coming campaign, it could have an impact, although it is an issue that should not be used as mitigation to hold back what is badly needed. rebuild.
Perhaps the most notable asset Liverpool have in this area in 2023 is the goalkeeper Kevin Kelleher, who is almost certain to be of interest to a number of clubs this summer. With speculation surrounding David Raya’s future at Brentford, the Reds goalkeeper has been linked with a move to west London.
Brentford technical director Lee Dykes intrigued those links earlier this week, saying: “Kelleher is a good keeper. There’s no doubt about that. He’s a good keeper. Obviously he hasn’t played many games, he’s been in the shadows a bit in Liverpool.”
Klopp said last month that it would take something “extraordinary” for the club to do business over Kelleher, but at the age of 24, Liverpool would certainly not stand in his way if the Ireland international wanted a change of scenery in the coming months.
However, a sale would theoretically leave the Reds in need of a back-up goalkeeper, although the presence of a veteran shot-stopper Adrianwho is on the verge of signing a contract extension, at least alleviates that problem somewhat.
Fabio Carvalho is surely the most exciting of the potential broadcasts this summer. Liverpool are adamant they will not tolerate a full sale for the former Fulham youngster, but have accepted a loan spell would be productive for his long-term career.
Carvalho, who joined from Fulham in a deal worth a potential £7m last summer, started just one game after Christmas last term, against Wolves in the FA Cup, and was restricted to one substitution in the final two months of the season. Liverpool have been approached by a number of potential suitors from both home and abroad for Carvalho and reportedly turned down offers from RB Leipzig last month.
While Liverpool are privately adamant that Carvalho will not be sold, in a summer where fewer and fewer members of the squad can command the kind of sums that have moved on in recent years, it will be interesting to see if the Reds’ resolve is tested by a big offer.
After being open to offers on and off for a number of years, it is expected Night Phillips will be the subject of further interest. The Reds rejected a £7million bid from Watford in January for the defender, but having featured just twice in the Premier League last term, Phillips, aged 26, is certain to enter his final window as a Liverpool player.
Matt Newberry is overseeing the club’s loan deals this summer alongside his official role as head of academy recruitment following David Woodfine’s departure at the end of the season, and he has already signed Harvey Davies‘ briefly switching to Crewe Alexandra to join Calvin Ramsay out the door after he agreed a loan move to Preston North End this week.
Leighton Clarksonmeanwhile, formally completed his move to Aberdeen on Thursday after a successful loan move last term.
Thiago Alcantara is entering the final year of his deal with the Reds, but it would be a major shock if the club were ready to offload the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich midfielder. The 32-year-old has been hit by injuries during his three years on Merseyside, but he remains a player of rare gifts and will be more valuable to Klopp in the final year of his contract than he would be if he had to sold.
Expect Thiago to join the now long list of high-profile players under Klopp leaving as a free agent. Until then, however, the No.6 will be no less important for the upcoming campaign, despite the expected midfield overhaul.
September van den Berg could find himself subject to another loan deal after a spell with Schalke in the Bundesliga last term, but Conor Bradley and Tyler Mortonwho spent last term with Bolton and Blackburn respectively, will be given a chance to impress during pre-season as it stands.
Unlike previous seasons where speculation over the likes of Mane, Mohamed Salah and Gini Wijnaldum has run rampant, Liverpool at least go into this window knowing there is little uncertainty over the big members of the first team. However, how much they can realistically raise to help with additional incomes is unknown.
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