A key aspect to Liverpool's transfer dealings in recent times has been the habit of supplementing the kitty with sales.
From Neco Williams to the likes of Jordon Ibe, Rhian Brewster and Dominic Solanke, the Reds have been able to significantly swell the pot by offloading players who were often on the fringes of Jurgen Klopp's first team in the last five years or so.
Players like Harry Wilson (£12m), Marko Grujic (£10m) and Danny Ward (£12m) have all been deemed surplus to requirements during Klopp's time before bringing in relatively sizable sums.
Since the summer of 2019, in fact, when Liverpool moved into the summer months as champions of Europe, the club have been able to bank a total of around £85m for those whose first-team opportunities were always going to be limited. A further £98m has been earned through departures of more established stars like Sadio Mane, Xherdan Shaqiri, Dejan Lovren, Simon Mignolet, Danny Ings and Takumi Minamino.
READ MORE: Liverpool midfielder agrees permanent departure after 15 years at club
READ MORE: How Liverpool could line up against Chelsea on opening day with new signings
For a club whose terms and conditions are bound so tightly by the self-sustainable model imposed, rightly or wrongly, by owners Fenway Sports Group, such a way of operating is a vital revenue source when it comes to player trading.
Such has been Liverpool's adroit ability to negotiate agreeable terms for those wantaway players, in fact, that former sporting director Michael Edwards was once said to have had a Premier League counterpart kneeling at his feet as a light-hearted show of admiration for managing to execute one particular deal.
With the 2023 summer transfer window now officially open, however, key figures inside the recruitment department might take a cursory glance throughout the squad and surmise that there are fewer saleable assets this time around.
And with the Reds set to be without the bounty that accompanies qualification to the Champions League this coming campaign, that could have an impact, even if it is an issue that should not be used as mitigation for holding back on what is a much-needed rebuild.
Perhaps the most notable asset Liverpool have in this area in 2023 is goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who is almost certain to be of interest to a whole host of clubs this summer. With speculation over David Raya's future at Brentford, the Reds goalkeeper has been linked with a switch to west London.
Brentford technical director Lee Dykes prompted intrigue over those links earlier this week, saying: "Kelleher is a good goalkeeper. There is no doubt in that. He is a good goalkeeper. He has not played a lot of games obviously, he has been in the shadows a little bit at Liverpool.”
Klopp said last month that it would take something "extraordinary" for the club to do business over Kelleher but at the age of 24, Liverpool would surely not stand in his way if the Ireland international wanted a change of scenery in the coming months.
A sale, though, would theoretically leave the Reds in need of a back-up goalkeeper, although the presence of veteran shot-stopper Adrian, who is on the cusp of signing a contract extension, at least eases that problem somewhat.
Fabio Carvalho is surely the most intriguing of the potential outgoings this summer. Liverpool are adamant they won't countenance a full sale for the former Fulham youngster but have accepted that a loan spell would be productive to his long-term career.
Carvalho, who joined from Fulham in a deal worth a potential £7m last summer, started just one game after Christmas last term, against Wolves in the FA Cup, and was restricted to one substitute appearance for the final two months of the season. Liverpool have been contacted by a number of potential suitors from both home and abroad for Carvalho and reportedly rejected advances from RB Leipzig last month.
While Liverpool are privately adamant that Carvalho won't be sold, in a summer where fewer and fewer members of the squad can fetch the sorts of sums like those who have moved on in recent years, it will be interesting to see if the Reds' resolve is tested by a large offer.
Having been open to offers on and off for a number of years, it's expected that Nat Phillips will be the subject of further interest. The Reds rejected a £7m bid from Watford in January for the defender but having featured just twice in the Premier League last term, Phillips, at the age of 26, is surely entering his final window as a Liverpool player.
Matt Newberry is overseeing the club's loan deals this summer alongside his official role as head of academy recruitment following the end-of-season departure of David Woodfine and he has already signed off on Harvey Davies' short-term switch to Crewe Alexandra to join Calvin Ramsay out the door after he agreed to a loan to Preston North End this week.
Leighton Clarkson, meanwhile, formally completed his move to Aberdeen on Thursday after a successful loan switch last term.
Thiago Alcantara is entering the final year of his deal with the Reds but it would be a major shock if the club were ready to offload the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich midfielder. The 32-year-old has been blighted by injuries during his three years on Merseyside but he remains a player of rare gifts and will be more valuable to Klopp for the last year of his contract than he would be if he was to be sold.
Expect Thiago to join the now lengthy list of high-profile players under Klopp to leave as a free agent. Before then, though, the No.6 will be no less important for the coming campaign, despite the expected midfield overhaul.
Sepp van den Berg could find himself the subject of another loan deal after a spell with Schalke in the Bundesliga last term, but Conor Bradley and Tyler Morton, who spent last term with Bolton and Blackburn, respectively, will be given a chance to impress during pre-season as it stands.
Unlike previous seasons where speculation over players like Mane, Mohamed Salah and Gini Wijnaldum has raged, Liverpool at least head into this window knowing there is little uncertainty over major members of the first team. How much they can realistically raise to help with any further incomings, though, is unknown.
READ NEXT
