In a perfect world, Liverpool would be parading their new Ferrari around Anfield right now as they tune up for yet another Champions League adventure. However, while a ticket to the top table in Europe will always be the target destination, Jurgen Klopp and his players have been made to encounter a detour this time around.
For the first season since 2016 the Reds will step into European competition on Thursday nights.
As a one-off, that is no reason for too much concern and Liverpool will always have immense pulling power even without Champions League qualification. It did not cost them signing Jude Bellingham - as such - but the shortfalls highlighted by a failed top-four charge did prompt Klopp and his recruitment team to opt for a diversion.
Due to the financial costs involved, Liverpool shelved initial plans to chase Real Madrid-bound Bellingham and, not for the first time, Klopp made light of that (non) decision with a typically sharp press conference comment. "We are not children; when you ask a five-year-old what they want for Christmas and they say a Ferrari, you wouldn't say 'oh, that's a good idea'...
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Deep down, Klopp might have been polishing up his leather driving gloves. As it turns out, though, his Plan B is not working too badly at the moment.
With the transfer window formally set to reopen on Wednesday morning, Liverpool have already made their mark by signing Alexis Mac Allister for an undisclosed fee. As a ballpark, the mooted £45m price tag represents top value for money as the Reds settle for a sleek and stylish new Audi instead.
Mac Allister earned rave reviews for his performances at Brighton - not to mention helping Argentina to the World Cup trophy in Qatar this winter - and there is a general sense the 24-year-old can hit even greater heights with, due respect to Brighton, better players around him.
But what next for Klopp and key figures behind the scenes?
Several midfielders have been linked with a follow-up transfer to the club; including Manu Kone, Khephren Thuram, Nicolo Barella, Mason Mount, Ryan Gravenberch and Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse. That's by no means an exhaustive list and it was added to most recently by the brilliant Federico Valverde.
An eye-catching proposition, of course, but perhaps another one beyond reach in the current climate, even if that man Bellingham does pitch up at the Santiago Bernabeu for next season. Liverpool are understood to admire some if not all of the above, but Klopp doesn't have an endless budget and there are still in-house solutions for him to use in various formations to get his squad firing on all cylinders, once again.
After (probably) splashing out £35m-£45m on Mac Allister, there's scope for more additions, as planned, while even after some high-profile departures there is still Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic and Harvey Elliott to call upon, not to mention Trent Alexander-Arnold in his new hybrid position.
Of course, Klopp might view that as the answer to his engine room concerns. Initially, though, it has been a shorter-term measure to get Liverpool through. Now all eyes are on further signings.
Due to his versatility, well-rounded defensive attributes and scope for improvement, Thuram appears to be a quite tempting proposition and the 22-year-old would not break the bank either, if reports of a £35m price tag are accurate.. It will be worth keeping an eye on how he performs for France at the impending U21 European Championships - alongside Kone.
After, seemingly, missing out on Bellingham and Mount - with Manchester United now favourites for his signature - an English addition must not be discounted. Current homegrown rules come into play, meaning Conor Gallagher or wildcard set-piece specialist Ward-Prowse should, or ought, to be monitored. The Southampton man has a contract that runs to 2026 but it remains to be seen what impact his side's relegation has on their ability to retain him.
Then it will come down to how many fresh faces Klopp actually wants in his squad.
Getting in Mac Allister so early was a massive boost, while Fabinho is the primary option to hold down the fort in a defensive sense. Henderson, it would seem, is being moulded for the squad role vacated by Milner.
In that sense, there is perhaps one first choice spot up for grabs alongside Fabinho and Mac Allister and, potentially, need for another back-up transfer. Factoring in all of the above, Thuram (£35m) and Ward-Prowse (£40m) might just fit the bill given contrasting ages, styles, experience and main attributes.
It would roughly take Liverpool's summer spend on midfielders to £115m - depending on how well the prospective deals are negotiated and if taking an estimate at £40m for the final Mac Allister figure. That would leave them with the following nine senior midfielders for next campaign; Fabinho, Thuram, Mac Allister, Henderson, Ward-Prowse and Thiago as well as youngsters Jones, Elliott and Bajcetic. On top of that would also be Alexander-Arnold if continuing his more advanced role.
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