Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan has praised the club's new transfer chief Julian Ward for his efforts in a summer window which has seen the Reds sign Darwin Nunez and tie Mohamed Salah down to a new deal.
Highly-rated Uruguayan hitman Nunez arrived for a mega-money fee which could rise as high as £85million, and is one of only three Anfield arrivals in the current window, with the Reds also having moved swiftly to swoop for Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsey and Fabio Carvalho of Fulham. However, Liverpool's best bit of business this summer has arguably been convincing Salah to commit to a new deal.
The Egyptian forward penned a new long-term contract to keep him at the club until 2025, eradicating fears the Reds could lose the free-scoring 30-year-old for nothing upon the expiry of his previous arrangement next summer. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has since suggested the club have concluded their transfer business with regards to incomings in the current window and it seems CEO Hogan is more than happy with the Reds' activity.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool's pre-season tour, which kicks-off with a friendly against Manchester United in Thailand on Tuesday, Hogan piled praise on a number of the club's staff for their roles in this summer's successful window, including transfer chief Ward, who has been afforded the daunting task of succeeding the hugely influential Michael Edwards. When probed on the Reds' busy off-season in an interview for the club's official website, Hogan replied: "Absolutely, particularly some of the work that's gone on on the football side, obviously.
"Great work from Julian [Ward] and the team, and Jurgen obviously and the coaching staff. Some great new signings and a couple of important renewals as well, which I am sure everybody is excited about."
This summer's outlay could well amount to just under £100m, with a potential £6.5m spent on Ramsey and a further £7.7m on Carvalho, on top of the money shelled out for Nunez. The 23-year-old joined for an initial £64m, though included add-ons based on appearances and performance could take that figure up to £85m.
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Klopp was also thought to be keen to add a dynamic midfielder to his ranks this summer, however the Reds were unsuccessful in their pursuit of former Monaco man Auerlien Tchouameni as Real Madrid pipped them to the Frenchman's signature. It appears plans to reinforce in midfield having now been postponed until next year, with Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham understood to be the club's top target.
Other than that, Liverpool are understood to have addressed all the areas they hoped to in this window as Ward has made a promising start to life as the club's new transfer chief - especially with Salah being signed to a fresh deal. Klopp was particularly complimentary of the Liverpool chief for his role in Salah's recent extension.
"He is very happy now that he can extend his time here," the Reds boss remarked. "We are very happy, a world-class player.
"Imagine you have to sign Mo Salah now; he’s in another club and you want a player with the numbers he created over the years. It’s pretty much not possible. But we have him and he wants to stay – very good news.
"Mo is one of the best players in the world; it’s only normal there are things to sort when you are at his level. So big credit to Julian Ward and Mike Gordon for guiding us to this destination."
Previous negotiator Edwards set the standard high during his six years at Anfield having been key to the club signing Salah and Mane for a combined £71m, while also snapping up the likes Andy Robertson, who was captured for a mere £8m. On top of that, the transfer guru was integral to mega-money moves for Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, and crucial to the £142m sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona back in 2018.
