Liverpool's signing of Cody Gakpo shows that they are not able to compete for the same calibre of player as Premier League champions Manchester City.
And that could impact their summer pursuit of England star Jude Bellingham - even if it seems clear that the midfielder is interested in a switch to Anfield.
That is the view of Mirror Football columnist Stan Collymore, whose own move to Liverpool in the summer of 1995 carried similar levels of secrecy.
"Most of all Gakpo’s signing has underlined the fact that Liverpool cannot compete with Manchester City - and maybe in the imminent future Newcastle United - when it comes to the calibre of talent they can sign," he writes in his Sunday column.
"Gakpo is a quality player with huge potential, much like Darwin Nunez. But you have to wonder if they are players that City would have signed as a primary target. I think no, because of the difference in financial clout.
"Don’t get me wrong, Liverpool can still buy quality players and their recruitment has been mostly very good for years.
"But the reality is City can sign Haaland and pay him three or four times more with all sorts mentioned around add-ons related to his performances. There are rumours of him being on almost a million a week including those incentives. Incredible.
I"t’s simple. City are guaranteeing players a better pay deal and almost a guarantee of more trophies over the course of a contract.
"With the greatest respect Liverpool are effectively shopping in Lidl or Aldi and City are walking straight into Harrods and buying the very best.
"Unless you have a bottomless pit of money from an oil-rich state, how can you compete? It is not just Liverpool either. Chelsea and Manchester United are in a similar position."
While Collymore believes Gakpo is a good player who has huge for improvement, he was surprised that Liverpool have not made signing a midfielder their number one priority - describing it as "prudent" to bolster that department if they are to finish in the top four.
But perhaps that is a good sign when it comes to acquiring Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund.
"Bringing one in this month, even on loan, would be prudent. Come the end of the season they will need at least two.," Collymore adds.
"There were options and I wonder why they didn’t take them.
"You have to think maybe it’s because they have heard really positive and encouraging noises from Jude Bellingham’s camp.
"Liverpool are playing a very simple, if dangerous, game of chicken. I’m sure he fancies the move and understands the potential for him at Anfield. But, again, there will be clubs who can offer more money.
"We’re talking Barcelona, Real Madrid, possibly Juventus, certainly City and maybe even Newcastle if they are in the Champions League.
"FSG will be aware of the financial reality and to stay in touch they need to come up with different ways to bring in players of the level required to challenge at the top. That’s easier said than done. "
