As a Liverpool fan it pains me to say it but sometimes you just have to face the facts. I, along with many Liverpool fans, had high hopes for this summer transfer window as we knew it would be huge in terms of rebuilding the squad.
With the departures of James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita along with Jordan Henderson and Fabinho in July, it was clear the club needed to address the midfield. Liverpool identified and signed Alexis MacAllister from Brighton Hove & Albion and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig. Both tremendous signings who have already shown their quality during preseason and match week 1 against Chelsea.
Although Liverpool did sign two phenomenal midfielders, the club seems to be stuck in a rut when it comes to signing anyone else.
All summer there have been reports of interest in Romeo Lavia of Southampton whom the club submitted various bids for. Southampton valued Lavia around £50M and Liverpool didn’t quite value him that highly. A few bids around the £45-48M range were made and rejected, rightfully so.
Liverpool then pulled away from that deal and shocked the football world when they bid £110M for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo. Caicedo had been identified as a potential target before but again, Liverpool deemed the asking price too high and pretty much ruled that transfer out early this summer.
Out of nowhere the club tried to hijack him from Chelsea late last week but the player’s heart was already with the London club. Chelsea eventually outbid Liverpool and signed Caicedo shortly after.
It is now being reported that Chelsea have also reached an agreement with Lavia for his services and it seems like he’s going to be headed to Stamford Bridge as well.
All of this news of Liverpool missing out on targets this summer has been so disappointing. I know the club prides itself on making signings that fit their financial structure and buying low, selling high whatever, but in this current transfer market we can’t have that same strategy.
As much as we love to say we have the best net spend out of any big six club yet we still compete for titles, clubs like West Ham, Newcastle and Aston Villa are spending more than us. At some point John Henry and Fenway Sports Group has to either open their wallets or sell the club, straight like that.
Liverpool are in a tough place right now given the club has no defensive midfielder and it’s hurting the rest of the team. The Chelsea game was a big wake up call in my opinion given we played Cody Gakpo in midfield. Come on man.
Not only that but MacAllister played in the defensive midfield position which he is capable of doing, but he would be much better suited in an attacking midfield role.
Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic will be coming back from injury soon which will help out for sure but even then Thiago is not amazing at the six and relying on Bajcetic just puts unnecessary pressure on him. The club needs to go in for another midfielder.
There have been rumors of Khéphren Thuram of Nice, Andre Trindade from Fluminense, Ibrahim Sangaré from PSV and more recently Cheick Doucouré from Crystal Palace.
I’d be very happy with any of these signings as they fill the hole we need but I’d prefer if Liverpool signed two of these players or signed one defensive midfielder and a center back.
While I have faith that Liverpool will sign someone before the window closes, the club’s transfer business has just been a complete mess this summer. Losing Michael Edwards as Sporting Director really hurt the club and it’s evident when you look at what’s been going on the last three to four weeks.
I know Liverpool still has a great squad and has the mentality to compete for titles, I am just so done with all the transfer window shenanigans.
If no defensive midfielder is signed or if we panic buy someone like Tyler Adams who the club is linked to, Liverpool might be finished.
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