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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Victor

Liverpool's top 10 most expensive signings as Jurgen Klopp adds two to list this summer

Liverpool have been getting started early as they look to bring Champions League football back to Anfield.

A frustrating fifth place finish under Jurgen Klopp last term means the Reds will have to spend a season away from European football's top table, and the likes of Roberto Firmino and James Milner have left after several years with the club. That means new faces are needed, and two have already joined for a combined fee in the region of £100m.

Liverpool's deal for Alexis Mac Allister was made official before the transfer window even opened, while Dominik Szoboszlai followed the Argentine to Merseyside after his release clause was met. With multi-million pound fees in place, both are now among the Reds' 10 most expensive signings.

But how do they compare to the biggest outlays in Liverpool's history? Nine of the 10 came under Klopp and Mirror Football has the full list here, with figures taken from Transfemarkt.

10. Alexis Mac Allister - £36.1m

Reported figures for Mac Allister's move vary, with reports ranging from £35m to £45m. Whatever the true fee, though, many consider it a bargain for a player coming off a World Cup win.

"It feels amazing. It’s a dream come true, it’s amazing to be here and I can’t wait to get started," the former Brighton star said upon joining. "I wanted to be in [from] the first day of pre-season, so it’s good that everything is done. I’m looking forward to meeting my teammates.

What have you made of Liverpool's summer business so far? Have your say in the comments section

Alexis Mac Allister has yet to make his Liverpool debut (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"Since I won the World Cup, I said that I want to win more trophies and I think that this club will help me to do that – that’s the aim and when you are in a big club like this one you have to win trophies. So, that’s what I want."

9. Diogo Jota - £38.4m

Jota's arrival came with little in the way of build-up. The Portuguese forward joined from Wolves in September 2020, just a few days into the 2020-21 season, in a deal which saw Liverpool defender Ki-Jana Hoever move in the other direction.

Injuries have plagued the 26-year-old, including one setback which kept him out of the 2022 World Cup. Despite those challenges, he has still delivered 41 goals at a rate of better than one every three games.

A long goal drought saw some questions asked. However, Jota looked to be back to something approaching his best during a run of seven goals in nine outings at the end of last season.

8. Fabinho - £38.7m

Fabinho has won trophy after trophy with Liverpool (Getty Images)

As with Jota, there was little fanfare around a Fabinho deal until it quickly went from zero to sixty. A star of Monaco's run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2017, he had one more year in the principality before joining Liverpool.

With a Champions League win in his first season and a league title 12 months later, it's fair to say the Brazilian made a huge impact. He hasn't scored many goals for the club, but an effort against Manchester City in November 2019 will live long in the memory.

Last season wasn't Fabinho's best, but then again few members of the squad covered themselves in glory. He and the club will hope it's just a blip and he can pick up where he left off in the coming months.

7. Christian Benteke - £39.9m

The only pre-Klopp signing on this list, Benteke arrived during Brendan Rodgers' final window at the helm. He remained involved for a few months under Klopp, scoring 10 in his first season, but it soon became clear he wasn't the right fit for the new boss.

The Belgian striker moved to Crystal Palace in 2016, with Liverpool essentially getting their money back. An impressive return of 15 goals in his first Eagles season was never matched again, and he managed just 35 in 162 league games for the London club.

Christian Benteke only lasted one season at Liverpool (Liverpool Echo)

Still just 32, Benteke is now playing his club football in the United States with D.C. United. He will take part in this summer's MLS All Star game against Premier League big-hitters Arsenal.

6. Luis Diaz - £40.4m

Signed in January 2022, Diaz arrived after a breakout few months for club and country. He tied for top-scorer honours at the 2021 Copa America, adding goal after goal for Porto before the Reds pounced.

That first half-season was an impressive one, with the Colombian's involvement helping Liverpool run Man City close for the Premier League title. Last term, however, injury restricted the forward to just 25 games for club and country.

"He really matured again," Klopp said upon welcoming Diaz back to the fold in April. "He is much more comfortable than he was in the beginning with everything in a new country, so that’s really good and it will help him as well. So, we are really happy to have him back."

5. Naby Keita - £51.5m

Keita arrived with high expectations, taking Steven Gerrard's old number eight shirt after joining from RB Leipzig in 2018. Unfortunately for the Guinean, though, injuries meant he never hit top gear with Liverpool.

Naby Keita's five-year Liverpool stint has ended (AP)

The midfielder never managed more than 25 league appearances in a single season with Liverpool. He scored some memorable goals, and his performance in a 5-0 win at Man Utd will live long in the memory, but the player who fans had hoped to see never quite materialised.

After letting his contract run down, Keita completed a summer move to Werder Bremen. There will still be some hoping to see him succeed, even if it's not in England.

4. Alisson - £53.7m

After Loris Karius' nightmare in the 2018 Champions League final, Klopp decided a new keeper was needed. Alisson ended up being that man, having played for Roma in their run to the semi-finals of that same competition.

The Brazilian instantly showed himself to be what Liverpool needed - not just immediately but for the long term. He has also proved a popular member of the Reds; squad, and was hailed even during last season's struggles.

"I think Ali's the best in the world for sure in what he does," team-mate Andy Robertson said in October 2022. "We've all probably let him down this season in that he's faced too many shots, he's had to be making too many saves and I think he'll be a lot happier [after the win against Manchester City].

3. Dominik Szoboszlai - £60.1m

Dominik Szoboszlai has become the Reds' newest recruit (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Szoboszlai impressed against Liverpool during his time with Red Bull Salzburg, and has kicked on with RB Leipzig. This explains Liverpool's willingness to pay big money for the 22-year-old, who has shown a willingness to sit out Champions League football for a year in order to join the Reds.

"It’s really, really good," the Hungary star told club media after the move became official. "I enjoyed the last [few] days and I’m looking forward to knowing everybody better.

“The last three or four days went really long; it was not that easy. But at the end I’m here, I’m happy and I can’t wait to get started. [A] really historic club, really good players, good coach, everything is good. For me it was perfect to make the next step in a club like this. The fans, the stadium, everything is really good.”

2. Darwin Nunez - £68.7m

This time last year, Nunez was the new face at Anfield. As with some others on this list, he had first impressed as an opponent, making Liverpool work for a Champions League knockout victory over Benfica.

Things didn't start perfectly for the Uruguayan, who was sent off against Crystal Palace early in the campaign. Wayward finishing meant his return of 15 goals could have been much higher, and the new season could be a pivotal one.

With Liverpool also adding Cody Gakpo in January, competition for places is set to be fierce for the next year. Nunez, who hit 34 in his final Benfica season, will need to justify his place in the side regardless of the hefty fee.

1. Virgil van Dijk - £72.7m

Virgil van Dijk remains Liverpool's record signing (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Big-money deals can often fall flat, with the likes of Eden Hazard and former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho proof of that. Van Dijk, however, is a rare undisputed hit.

The Dutch defender joined in January 2018, the same month which saw Coutinho depart for Barcelona. Almost instantly, he showed himself to be exactly what the Reds needed.

Van Dijk has been at the heart of Liverpool's finest moments of the last few years, including the Champions League and Premier League successes. Despite the 2022-23 season not being his finest, the centre-back should forever be regarded as one of his club's best signings.

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