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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Chris Knight

Liverpool are right to swerve £25m transfer as Jurgen Klopp strategy shines through

Liverpool have already made swift yet decisive moves in the transfer market ahead of the new campaign.

The Reds came agonisingly close to an unprecedented quadruple, but are not resting on their laurels for next season. Jurgen Klopp's side could end up paying close to £100million after agreeing moves for Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay.

There is a clear blueprint on display as Liverpool balance out the need for contract extensions while evolving their squad. It is an exciting 'transformation' Klopp spoke of just two months ago ahead of his side's Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid.

Mohamed Salah ended months of speculation over his future by putting pen to paper on a three-year deal, making the Egypt superstar the highest-paid player in the club's history. The 30-year-old could be the lone survivor of Liverpool's famous attack, with Roberto Firmino's future still in doubt and Sadio Mane departing for Bayern Munich.

Nunez was clearly signed with Mane's impending departure in mind, with the Uruguay international enjoying a breakout season with Benfica. It also means that following the arrival of January sensation Luis Diaz, the Reds already look set to have regenerated a frontline that until recently looked nigh-impossible to recreate.

This is why recent links to Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio seems at odds with Klopp's plans for evolution rather than revolution. The Spain international has entered the final year of his contract and is reportedly attracting Premier League interest.

Real Madrid midfielder Marco Asensio has been linked with a move to Liverpool (Getty Images)

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Liverpool try and sign Marco Asensio? Comment below!

Asensio was once considered the next big thing in the Spanish capital but injuries have derailed his development and seen his star somewhat wane. The 26-year-old was an unused substitute in the Champions League final and made just 19 La Liga starts last term.

Asensio has admitted he is considering his options this summer, with a desire for game-time potentially pushing the forward towards the exit door. However, the Merseyside links have been dismissed by the Liverpool Echo, and even a cut-price £25m transfer does not make sense for Klopp.

Liverpool will likely go deep in four competitions once again, and the winter World Cup has created a testing, compressed calendar. But Klopp will already be confident he has the weapons in his arsenal to handle these demands.

Salah has consistently proven himself durable and almost always available since his arrival from Roma in 2017. As it stands, it leaves Diaz, Firmino, Nunez and Diogo Jota to regularly jostle for the two other starting spots.

That is before you take into account Carvalho, who is expected to make a first-team impact following his impressive displays for Fulham last year. Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones are expected to compete for midfield places but could also provide cover in attack alongside Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Asensio would seemingly be trading a bench role at the Bernabeu for one at Anfield. It would also be counter-productive to Klopp's ambition to slowly but surely redevelop the squad, with the likes of Diaz, Jota and Nunez all likely to have their best years ahead of them.

The Liverpool boss has spoken of the need to 'open space for the next generation' while somehow keeping the current side competing at the 'highest possible level'. It is difficult to see how Asensio would fit into that puzzle as Klopp appears to have already assembled the majority - if not all - of the pieces.

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