Liverpool have made three signings in the early stages of the summer transfer window and are reportedly happy to leave things there.
The Reds have been busy over the past few weeks, arranging the arrivals of Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsey. Nunez is undoubtedly the headline signing, with Liverpool agreeing to pay Benfica a fee which could eventually reach £85million , while Carvalho and Ramsey are in the category of exciting both young prospects.
Liverpool have conducted their business efficiently and early in a style which fans have come accustomed to in recent years. The planned and concise approach to transfers was seen in the arrivals of Luis Diaz and Ibrahima Konate last season and breeds confidence in the newest additions.
According to the Liverpool Echo , the club are now happy with their squad and don’t plan on making any more signings this summer. That stance could still change, of course, with 73 days still to go until the transfer window closes on September 1, but it gives clarity over Jurgen Klopp’s plans for pre-season.
It also means that Liverpool’s midfield will remain the same as last season for the upcoming 2022/23 campaign. Klopp will be able to call upon James Milner, who has signed a new one-year deal , as well as Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is the only player who there remains some doubt around. The 28-year-old endured a difficult campaign in 2021/22, but Liverpool intend to keep him , despite his limited impact last year and the fact he is entering the final year left of his contract.
There have been some calls from supporters for Liverpool to bolster their central midfield options this summer – and the club did consider doing so. The Reds were indeed interested in signing Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni before Real Madrid blew them out of the water by offering around £68m (€80m) to the French club and a six-year contract to the 22-year-old.
It now seems as though Liverpool and Klopp are happy to stick with what they’ve got in central midfield for another season and then make their moves in a year’s time. The Sun says they are willing to wait for the right player and they are sure that is Jude Bellingham.
Borussia Dortmund are unwilling to sanction the sales of both Bellingham and Erling Haaland in the same transfer window so have rebuffed any approaches for the England international. Liverpool know they will face lots of competition, but new transfer chief Julian Ward is ready to play the long game.
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Liverpool’s top-tier midfielders emerged during the business end of last season, when the club were still chasing a quadruple. Fabinho, Thiago and Henderson were absolutely crucial to their success and injuries suffered to the Brazilian and Spaniard therefore became a major concern.
The fact that Klopp is willing to sit tight for another summer, rather than spending big on reinforcements, shows he is happy with his back-up options, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita, Milner and Jones. Both Oxlade-Chamberlain and Keita are about to enter the final year of their current contracts, so will effectively be playing for their futures in the team.
Elliott and former Fulham star Carvalho are both capable of playing in a midfield three, which gives Klopp further options. But it will be the aforementioned foursome who must bear the brunt of the work when Klopp’s favoured trio need a rest or pick up an injury.
