Before Jurgen Klopp turned Liverpool into champions of England, Europe and the world, there was a recurring trait in the Reds’ transfer business each summer as the German looked to turn his side from hopefuls into heavyweights.
The signing of a proven Premier League player who had loosely been linked with Liverpool in the past, yet one whose arrival was somewhat left field, prompting raised eyebrows and a shrug of the shoulders from curious supporters as the Reds pounced on an attractive transfer opportunity at a cut-price fee.
In Klopp’ s first summer transfer window as Liverpool manager, he’d sign Gini Wijnaldum from relegated Newcastle United for £25m. Fast forward a year and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would be snapped up for £35m on transfer deadline day, as Arsenal chose to cash in rather than lose the midfielder for free at the end of his contract 12 months later after he decided against extending his deal.
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And in the summer of 2018, the Reds took advantage of a relegation release clause in Xherdan Shaqiri ’s Stoke City contract to bring in the Switzerland international for just £13.5m.
While Wijnaldum would cement his place as a Liverpool legend during his five years at Anfield, with Klopp re-inventing him as a deeper midfielder, none of the trio were expected to be regular first-choice starters upon their arrival, with the Reds instead taking advantage of such opportunities to add greater quality and depth to their squad.
Yet since winning the Champions League in 2019, Liverpool have ultimately had to tweak their approach and be shrewder in the transfer market. Not able to call upon a £142m club record sale to finance their activity each year, and stung by the financial ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic, they have had to be more selective with their recruitment as a result.
Shopping in a higher-quality market, every penny has to count as they compete with the riches of Man City and they are no longer free to make such gambles as a result. Every signing has to be right and has to be seen to strengthen their starting XI rather than just their squad.
Assistant manager Pep Lijnders addressed such a fact only earlier this month when speaking at a pre-match press conference before the Reds’ League Cup clash with Derby County.
"We cannot afford to buy and not be right. We can only afford to buy to be right,” he told reporters. “And it has to add something to our team. Something special, something new. Jota added something new, something special. Luis Diaz added something new, something special. Ibou Konate added something new, something special.
"We have to be right and that’s what we search for. What was most important was to tie down our best players. Our team is and was a machine. If you don’t tie them down, they will leave. It’s always a balance. You need to be right with your signings and I believe we were right.
"Do people want to see one or two or three or four more players? Of course! Everybody wants to see, the outside world. We prefer to have the right one, and to really work with. And give time for young ones, to really work with.
"Add and renew the team, make it younger, add the academy. Give talent a chance and to buy the top one who influences the first XI immediately like Luis, like Jota, like Ibou, like Kostas.”
Fans have understandably been critical of owners FSG for their limited investment in the Liverpool squad and recruitment in recent years. Since that 2019 Champions League final win, the Reds have parted with an initial £217m to sign seven senior players (Takumi Minamino, Kostas Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara, Diogo Jota, Ibrahima Konate, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez).
In contrast, they spent £384m upfront when completing their previous 13 senior signings since Klopp’s first summer transfer window in 2016.
One could argue Liverpool’s hands have been forced somewhat by unforeseen influences such as the pandemic, while such a stance didn’t stop them building a squad that would win every major honour on offer including the Premier League title. Yet, critics would insist that the Reds could and should have won so much more, if only they’d invested more.
Klopp would allude to his frustrations at such a stance back in August, admitting: “Let me say it like this; from time to time I would be ready to risk a bit more.”
Regardless of the rights and wrongs of Liverpool’s investment in recent years, they are going to have to dip their toes into the market more aggressively in the months ahead with their squad in need of a revamp. Possessing an ageing squad, filled with expiring contracts and injury-prone players, such an overhaul began this calendar year as the Reds refreshed their attack with the midfield set to be their focus in 2023.
However, Klopp would suggest last week that Liverpool are yet to decide what they plan to do in the January transfer market, but revealed discussions have been held behind the scenes. Meanwhile, after the Reds’ win over Southampton in their final match before the World Cup, he’d admit: “We are always open to these kinds of things but we don’t have to open this discussion now. If there is something possible, we will do it. If a door opens, we are open as well.”
Liverpool fans will inevitably hope such talk relates to long-standing target Jude Bellingham, with the midfielder expected to leave Borussia Dortmund next year but also attracting interest from the likes of Man City and Real Madrid. The England international is believed to be Klopp’s first-choice target to strengthen his midfield, yet it remains to be seen if he would cost too much for the Reds with it highly-likely any such deal would command a club-record transfer fee.
Yet away from such big-money stars, the German could strengthen his squad with another player he loves this January, and one available for a cut-price fee in a throwback to deals akin to Liverpool’s previous signings of Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Shaqiri.
Adama Traore has repeatedly been linked with the Reds, having shone for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League since joining them in an £18m deal back in August 2018. Such speculation goes hand-in-hand with Klopp going public with his admiration for the winger on a number of occasions in the past.
"He finally found his manager who found a position for him,” the German lauded back in December 2019. “At Middlesbrough he was exceptional, but somebody had to give him the right information. A big, big talent. You would never have thought he is that young, but he is still very young.
"And now he has found it (the right manager). It was always clear it would happen one day, and now it has. Good for Wolves! He is really dangerous. In a big space Jamie Vardy is difficult to defend, but I would say Traore is even more difficult to defend because his speed is exceptional."
He’d double down on such praise the following month after the winger set up Raul Jimenez’s equaliser against the Reds in January 2020, though Liverpool would end up winning 2-1 at Molineux on their way to clinching the title.
“And Traore now, at the moment I would say he is, pretty much, unplayable,” he said. “I've said it now a couple of times and it is still true. He is now not only a winger anymore, he keeps the ball, holds the ball and sets up goals, obviously. That makes it so difficult, each ball you lose is 100% a counter attack and half a goal."
Other Klopp soundbites on Traore include: “Nobody’s as quick as him!”, "The speed of Traore is actually undefendable in moments,” and “He is unplayable in moments, it’s unbelievable. What a player… he’s so good.”
Given such praise, it should be no surprise that Liverpool have repeatedly found themselves linked with the winger, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Barcelona. Reports even suggest they initially looked to sign the Spain international from Wolves in the summer of 2020, only to switch their attention to Jota.
However, now could be the perfect time to revisit such interest with Traore entering the final six months of his contract at Molineux.
The 26-year-old has previously turned down the offer of a new deal with Wolves, and had been expected to leave in the summer only for a move to not come to fruition. While new manager Julen Lopetegui would like the winger to stay at Molineux, he has admitted Traore could move on.
“Adama is our player. I’ve known him since he was 14 at Barcelona, he is stronger now!” the Spaniard recently admitted . “I know he has not finished the contract but the most important thing is he works hard here until June. After that, I don’t know what is going to happen. Of course, I would be very happy if he was here.”
Should Traore continue to decline the offer of a new contract with Wolves, he will be available on a free transfer next summer. Meanwhile, it’s also possible that he could be allowed to leave the club for a cut-price fee in January if they choose to cash in rather than risk losing him for nothing.
Liverpool haven’t made a concrete move for Traore in the past despite Klopp’s admiration, but his expiring contract will open a door regarding his future. With the Reds open to opportunistic transfers, while they might have decided against parting with a significant fee for the Spaniard in the past, this time it could be an opportunity too good to say no to and a door they wish to walk through.
Like when Liverpool signed Shaqiri, Traore would never be first-choice for Liverpool. However he would be a more than capable squad option, with his pace a potential game-changer when introduced from the bench. Meanwhile, with his preferred position on the right-wing, he could ultimately fill a current void in the Reds’ squad as Mohamed Salah ’s senior deputy.
While Klopp’s attacking options were limited in the final weeks before the World Cup after losing both Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota to long-term injury, he is well-covered both centrally and on the left with the injured pair complementing Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino. But while both injured players can play on the right, it doesn’t come as naturally to them.
When you consider that Salah is likely to be missing next season for the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2024, the need for a senior, natural understudy is more pressing.
Admittedly, Liverpool do possess Harvey Elliott as an alternative option, though he is predominantly being utilised in midfield, while the likes of Kaide Gordon and Ben Doak have certainly caught the eye in the youth ranks as potential long-term replacements for the Egyptian. Yet this is another example of the situation the Reds have been stung by in midfield this season, boasting a number of ageing stars and talented youngsters but lacking players enjoying their peak years.
Traore could provide exactly that as a valued squad option for a few years, like Shaqiri was, before moving on for a starting role elsewhere. Such a role is niche and a player has to have the right mentality to fill it. It’s all very well stepping up a level and winning trophies with a successful side, but footballers still want to play. As a result, any such signing is hardly long-term.
Yet Shaqiri made it a success as he got his hands on Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and European Super Cup winners’ medals at Anfield. While his loan move to Barcelona did not work out, things could be different for Traore at Anfield should he be up to the challenge and follow in the playmaker’s footsteps.
And while such a transfer would admittedly be a risk for both player and club, isn’t that exactly what Klopp has been asking for?
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