So far this summer, Liverpool have let more players go than perhaps they would’ve liked, and not brought in as many as they
need, and that has left a former club legend suggesting that they’ve had a lukewarm window at best, with a scattergun approach
to transfers.
Although the signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are reasonable enough hires, the pursuit of Moises Caicedo for a record fee has
left Stan Collymore believing that the Reds have resorted to panic buying.
“Liverpool’s transfer window has been average. I mean, Mac Allister, very good, eight out of 10 signing. Szoboszlai, one for the future, seven out of 10
– but this is in the context of losing Henderson, Milner, Firmino, Naby Keita…,” he said in his exclusive CaughtOffside column.
“The very least a club like Liverpool should be doing if they’re having a massive clear out, is to have a massive amount of incomings, and I’d say
they’ve left themselves maybe two short, three players short.”
Over the course of the past few seasons, Liverpool have tended to get their business done early on in the transfer window.
It isn’t clear why they’ve not done so in the current market, and whilst supporters will surely look at things and just want the club to throw money at
the problem, Jurgen Klopp has never worked like that and so if the deal isn’t right for whatever reason, that’s his and his recruitment team’s
prerogative.
“Liverpool’s recruitment department historically has been very good, but for me, looking to break the British transfer record late in the day doesn’t
bode well and it comes across as panicking to me,” Collymore added.
“Liverpool have always been one of those clubs that have been on the starting blocks. You look at City, they want Paqueta, they want Gvardiol, and
you could say both of those are late in the day, but you’re adding to a treble-winning squad. Liverpool are adding to try and get back on par with
Manchester City, and in terms of Liverpool’s business overall, I’d give them a five or six.”
With the first game of the season ahead this weekend, Collymore’s old club have left themselves very light in midfield, and that could come back and
bite them.
The last thing that the Reds want to be doing is playing catch up to the likes of Man City, Arsenal and others straight off the bat.
“Their first choice midfield is not as battle tested as any as the top five or six really, they just don’t know what it will be like under pressure in the
Premier League, so I think another midfielder is needed for sure,” Collymore concluded.
“I’m a little bit concerned that Liverpool seem to be having a bit of a scattergun approach to anybody that’s available and so it’s a lukewarm window f
or Liverpool and perhaps an over reliance at the beginning part of the season on a very, very good attacking department.”
READ MORE:
Moises Caicedo now wants to join Chelsea after Liverpool boss confirms Ecuadorian’s signing: Report
The Brighton midfielder has reportedly opted to sign for Chelsea this summer
Liverpool were seen as the most possible destination for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo but there was a twist to this transfer saga on Friday.
Transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano claimed that the Ecuadorian international has informed Liverpool that his desire is to join Chelsea this
summer. “Moises Caicedo has just informed Liverpool that he only wants to join Chelsea! Caicedo has decided to keep his word and only accept
Chelsea as personal terms were agreed since end of May. Chelsea, set to bid again in order to get deal done with Brighton,” Romano tweeted.
Caicedo’s latest move comes just hours after Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed that his side have reached an agreement with Brighton. “I
can confirm the [Moises Caicedo] deal with the club is agreed, whatever that means in the end. Of course, we want the player and not just the
agreement. We don’t have endless resource. We didn’t expect a couple of things to happen over the summer but when that happened we gave it a go.
Let’s see what happens and we go from there,” Klopp said at a press conference.
When asked to share his views on shelling out big money in the transfer market, Klopp said, “Everything changed. Do I like it? No. Did I realise I was
wrong? Yes. I’m not blaming anyone but it’s just the market. In the end, we as a club have to make sure that, with our resources, we get the best
possible player. We aren’t in a dreamland and can’t just point at a player and get them to come in. Sometimes one door closes and another opens up.”
A report published by The Guardian earlier claimed that Liverpool had their 110m Pounds offer accepted by Brighton. The situation changed rapidly
and Chelsea wanted to submit a fresh bid for Caicedo. The Blues were frontrunners for Caicedo last night and they had reportedly submitted an offer
worth up to 100m Pounds. Though, Liverpool entered the race late today in a bid to hijack the 21-year-old.
Another Premier League outfit, Arsenal were also interested in Caicedo. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wanted to sign Caicedo last season during the
January transfer window. The Gunners had even reportedly submitted two bids. Brighton, however, managed to retain Caicedo for the remainder of
the season.
Brighton had signed Moises Caicedo for 4.5m Pounds from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle in 2021. He was soon loaned out to Belgian side
Beerschot. Having spent a season at Beerschot, Caicedo returned to Brighton in January last year. Caicedo represented Brighton in the Premier
League in 34 matches last time. In international football, Caicedo has three goals to his name in 32 matches.
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