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Liverpool Echo

Sport

Paul Gorst

Liverpool have run out of options to repeat major FSG transfer trick

While the last five years have established Liverpool as one of the most astute operators in the transfer market, incomings have only formed part of that reputation.

Under the sporting director model, Jurgen Klopp, Michael Edwards and Julian Ward have brought in some of the most vaunted players in decades at Anfield with the help of their recruitment team.

But for every Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, there are a number of less-heralded deals that have helped supplement what is available to Klopp in his efforts to reshape the squad to his liking.

In the summer of 2018, Liverpool were able to fetch £20m for Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth, while Danny Ward brought in £12.5m after he was deemed surplus to requirements following the arrival of Alisson.

The following year, Danny Ings was signed by Southampton for a fee of £20m after a successful loan spell, while youngsters Rafa Camacho and Ryan Kent fetched about £15m between them when they moved to Sporting Lisbon and Rangers.

Liverpool earned £23.5m for Rhian Brewster in the summer of 2020 when he joined Sheffield United. Nearly three years on from that deal, it looks like a remarkable one but the Reds' valuation was determined by the market forces of the time. Brewster had just come off a short loan spell at Swansea where he registered 11 goals in 22 appearances in the same window that saw the Championship's top scorer, Ollie Watkins, join Aston Villa for around £28m.

Repeated loan spells for players like Harry Wilson and Marko Grujic saw Liverpool bank additional sums before they were finally sold in the summer of 2021 for respective fees of £12m and £10.5m to Fulham and Porto. The pair only made a handful of combined appearances for the first team but retained their value largely through impressive performances while out on loan.

It's perhaps one of the unspoken benefits of the loan system. Ideally the club uses short-term moves away to improve and develop players who have the potential to play for the first team further down the line, but those who aren't quite at such a high standard can still bring in a healthy profit.

Such a strategy was how Liverpool were able to receive £6.5m for Taiwo Awoniyi despite the Nigerian striker never coming close to a first-team appearance at Anfield. The powerful frontman cost just £400,000 in 2015 from Imperial Soccer Academy in his homeland, meaning Liverpool made a huge profit on Awoniyi, who is now a Premier League striker at Nottingham Forest.

The ability to boost the coffers with eye-catching figures is part of what made Edwards so revered as Liverpool's first-ever sporting director, but his replacement, Julian Ward, has proven equally adept to date in his short tenure.

Neco Williams, for example, was unlikely to ever supplant Trent Alexander-Arnold as first choice on the right side of Liverpool's defence but they were still able to bank £17m for him from Forest. The Reds were able to point to Williams' age of 21, the fact he was a fully-fledged Wales international and had over 30 appearances for one of the best Liverpool teams in decades as justification for their asking price.

Takumi Minamino also added £15m to the balance after his sale to Monaco was complete. The Japan international was never a regular under Klopp and became something of a cup specialist during his two-and-a-half years on Merseyside.

For a club like Liverpool, who are bound by the self-sustaining model favoured by owners Fenway Sports Group, such a way of working is imperative to providing additional funds, but a cursory glance around the current squad might evoke a feeling of unease for those tasked with raising extra millions at Anfield.

At a time when Liverpool are seemingly in desperate need of significant investment in the squad, particularly the midfield area, there are few left on the fringes who can help fund that renovation.

With James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita into the final few months of their deals and the fact that Arthur Melo is almost certain not to be kept on after his loan spell from Juventus is over, Klopp knows there is a major midfield problem to address head on, even if he has tried to play down that during his press dealings.

Links to No.1 target Jude Bellingam at Borussia Dortmund continue, while there is a long-standing interest in Matheus Nunes at Wolves that could be revisited later this year, but a lack of Champions League football would almost certainly restrict the Reds ability to maneuver with freedom in the market.

Nat Phillips is one potential asset who could be offloaded and the return of Rhys Williams indicates the club are expecting interest to step up in the fifth choice centre-half. The Reds have struggled to get near the £12-15m asking price they have long coveted for the former Bolton youngster.

A reduction in that figure is expected if Phillips is to depart this window. Burnley, Newcastle and Leicester have previously been keen on the defender and Liverpool are braced for offers before the window closes.

Caoimhin Kelleher is an interesting prospect and the Irish goalkeeper admitted after the 3-2 defeat at Manchester City last month that this summer could see him consider his long-term options as he continues to play deputy to Alisson.

How much would the Ireland international realistically bring in though? Even if Liverpool fetch towards the top end of what they feel him to be worth, it won't be enough to completely fund any major midfield deals.

With sporting director Ward and head of research Ian Graham both set to leave the club this summer, it could prove to be a watershed moment for Liverpool as far as recruitment goes. And the days of bringing in high fees for expendable talent could be over too, meaning a serious re-think of the strategy might be needed.

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