It has become an encouragingly regular feature of Liverpool's transfer dealings in recent years. And Cody Gakpo was merely the latest example of how the Reds prefer to do business.
Before the January transfer window had even been swung open, the Anfield side proudly announced they had agreed a deal worth a potential £44million to take the Holland international forward from PSV Eindhoven.
The move followed what has become a tradition - particularly in January - of Liverpool doing business as early as possible, with Takumi Minamino in 2020 and Virgil van Dijk in 2018 two prominent New Year examples.
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Often the work is done behind the scenes away from the glare of supporters, the media and, even more impressively, the tittle-tattle of the rumour mill. Consider the transfer of Fabinho, announced two days after Liverpool had lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid in May 2018 mere hours after first whispers emerged of a potential deal.
Of course, it isn't always achievable, with each transfer having many moving parts that need to come together in sync before the deal can finally be realised.
But targets are usually identified long in advance with transfers, such as the one that brought Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig just days after the end of the 2020/21 season, months in the offing.
That's what makes the forthcoming summer transfer window potentially unusual not only for Liverpool, but most leading clubs.
For a start, the mid-season World Cup has changed matters. The competition, which usually takes place in June and July, normally provides a start and end point for many club careers, a global shop window for players. There were some such moves in January - Gakpo being one - but nowhere near the usual level of movement given the campaign was barely reaching a halfway point.
Then there is the fact so many teams are reaching the end of their natural cycles at the same time. And, pertinent to Liverpool, many will be seeking to refashion their midfield.
Chelsea got a jump start on most in January. But, along with Liverpool, both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are likely to require further surgery, Arsenal will want to build on this season's progress, and Manchester City and Newcastle United are going to splash the cash. Further afield, Real Madrid are another in pursuit of an engine room reshuffle.
The Reds' business will also be tailored by where they finish in the Premier League table, with new life being breathed into their hopes of Champions League qualification by the recent domestic revival. Failure to finish in the top four would impact on the funds available.
And there is also the possibility Liverpool could yet have an injection of fresh outside investment with Fenway Sports Group chief John Henry having this week told the ECHO the club have identified potential investors.
The recruitment team, though, cannot afford to wait, and, led by outgoing sporting director Julian Ward, are continuing their process of pinpointing and assessing the feasibility of transfer targets.
As ever, there is a shortlist of players for each position Liverpool are targeting this summer, with central midfield the clear priority. However, the increased number of variables mean there are more potential targets than usual being considered.
Indeed, there are those players the Reds accept may well become unavailable should they not finish in the top four, whether through the lack of necessary finance or Champions League football itself.
It's why club insiders have spoken of a "number of spinning plates" in terms of transfers, deals reliant on a significant number of factors. Once one domino falls, so will the others. But with almost three months left in the campaign, that remains some way off.
Clearly, what happens on the pitch over the remaining weeks of the season will determine the business off it during the summer. The uncertainty goes on.
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