The January transfer window closed with Liverpool doing exactly what most people expected they would, namely no further business. The talented Mr Gakpo was a fine addition at the start of the month but it’s fair to question if the funds taken to secure him might have been better invested elsewhere in the squad.
Anyone who has followed the Reds’ business for several years knew there almost certainly wouldn’t be any last minute additions, it’s not the club’s style. There have been deadline day punts like Ozan Kabak, Ben Davies and Arthur Melo in recent times, but with the lack of success they’ve had you can see why Liverpool don’t make a habit of such signings.
Still, many of their supporters were crying out for them to be more aggressive in the market, especially with Chelsea buying every player you’ve ever heard of (and some you haven’t). Being more active doesn’t have to be expensive either, at least in terms of transfer fees.
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The list of free agents on Transfermarkt is not an inspiring collection of players, understandably so. The best of the bunch is 30-year-old attacking midfielder Isco, who was part of the Real Madrid side that defeated Liverpool in Kyiv in 2018, and played for Sevilla earlier this season. He was on the cusp of a move to Union Berlin in Germany this January, but that broke down - and he has since been linked with a switch to the Premier League.
It’s hard to see what Isco would add to Jurgen Klopp’s squad, though, nor which problems he could solve. A search for players who could make a significant contribution in central midfield without currently commanding a transfer fee reveals nobody of note either.
However, Liverpool may need to scour the market for such players in the summer. The more optimistic end of the fanbase believe that the Reds kept their powder dry in January as they are keeping money back to pay for Jude Bellingham. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder will cost north of £100million, and while he would obviously be a fabulous addition, the money involved would not leave too much remaining for further reinforcements.
And Liverpool look likely to need them. Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are out of contract in the summer, so the club’s midfield will lack both quantity and quality should the trio all move on.
With the Reds having maintained a relatively low net spend over the years, it’s surprising they haven’t made greater use of Bosman signings. If we ignore the back-up goalkeepers beginning with ‘A’ – Alex Manninger, Adrian. Andy Lonergan – this summer will mark seven years since Liverpool acquired a senior player on a free transfer.
Joel Matip was the man in question, and while his time with the club has been injury-hit at times, the former Cameroon international has generally performed very well with Liverpool. Prior to him was Milner, an even better servant to the club, while further back Gary McAllister added experience to a young midfield and helped the Reds win a memorable cup treble.
Then there are the likes of Craig Bellamy (for his second stint on Merseyside) and Kolo Toure. While not resounding successes by any means, they played a role in Liverpool winning the League Cup under Kenny Dalglish and challenging for the title under Brendan Rodgers respectively. As collections of freebies go, the Reds’ group have done pretty well over the years.
The collection of players who are set to be out of contract in the summer contains many intriguing names. The likes of Youri Tielemans, Wilfried Zaha, N’golo Kante and Marcus Thuram will garner plenty of interest if they do not extend their existing deals. They may not be right for Liverpool necessarily but they are from a market in which the Reds likely need to do more business.
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