I agree with Jurgen Klopp that he needs a rebuild this summer, with at least four signings - and very possibly more - required.
But I can’t help thinking it needs to be better than the transfer business they’ve done in the last year if they are to get back to the incredible level Liverpool have enjoyed for most of the time under him.
I’m not having a go in any way at the players involved, but how much have they spent on effectively refreshing their forward line and replacing Sadio Mane? A conservative estimate says £150m. But what have they got for that money - and it’s a huge amount, despite the fans complaining the owners haven’t invested? Potential, that’s what.
Darwin Nunez looks exciting at times, but he’s far from the finished article, and it could be quite a while if we see him fulfil, if at all. I think the same could be said of Cody Gakpo. Neither of them hit the ground running, and that’s being kind.
Luis Diaz was a little different. You could argue he was Liverpool’s best player until he got injured. But as a replacement for Mane? Not on the same page yet as a finisher. And the injury problems he’s already had hardly instil confidence.
I think that’s been one of the major issues. They’ve spent money, but it seems to be club policy to go out and buy young talent, rather than the finished article, despite the high prices.
You look at the level Liverpool were at last season, and if anyone was going to come into that team, then they had to be in the absolute elite of world football. I don’t think they’ve got that. Yet.
You can argue Salah and Mane weren’t elite players when they arrived, but they both absolutely hit the ground running…and also immediately hit the numbers they maintained throughout their time at Anfield.
So yeah, the owners MUST spend big money in the summer, but it’s a bigger issue than that. The recruitment has to be near perfect as it was in the past too, with elite level players who can make a big difference immediately.
That won’t come cheap. And it may not be wise to spend what money they have on one player. Let’s say the summer budget is £130m and they spend it on Jude Bellingham, one player just won’t solve the team problem they’ve got.
I think they need three players to go straight into the starting XI, at least. You’re not finding two of them for no fee. So either the budget is far beyond Bellingham’s fee (if they can get him), or they look for three players at £45m each.
That’s tough in today’s market, but it may be the sensible option…if the recruitment team can reproduce their previous golden touch which found so many players who so quickly proved to be amongst the elite.
