Liverpool owners FSG should be applauded not ridiculed.
While Liverpool’s social media fans debate the club’s finances and whether owners FSG should be matching the likes of Chelsea and Manchester Utd in the transfer market, the club’s youth revolution is continuing with little fanfare.
We all know that players such as Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones are banging on the door of the first-team squad, but it’s what’s happening underneath that should have reds fans even more excited for the future.
The club’s transfer policy has looked pretty slim over the last two seasons. Despite success on the field, the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that games are currently being played behind closed doors, losing the club a reported £3 million every time they step out at Anfield – said Mark Ogden at ESPN.
However, with short term improvements to the first team squad being put on hold, it seems that the long term vision of developing world-class youth into global superstars is going full steam ahead with three new signings unveiled this week.
16-year-old goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek and Polish youth international teammate, Mateusz Musialowski were joined by the highly-rated German, Melkamu Frauendorf. The deal to bring in Frauendorf, in particular, has been seen as a sharp move by experts in Germany.
It was looking more and more likely that his former club Hoffenheim were going to promote the youngster into their reserve team set up before Liverpool swooped in to steal his services.
Musialowski, too, sparked some excitement with many calling the prolific youngster the next Robert Lewandowski.
Fraudenhorf can play anywhere across the front three, is blessed bags of pace, great technical ability, and an eye for goal that will surely have the reds new U23 boss excited for the coming season. But it’s the youngster’s extreme work ethic that caught the attention of Liverpool scouts and should set him in good stead for a career under Jurgen Klopp.
I can see why fans are frustrated by the club’s lack of activity in the transfer market. It’s been a long 30-year climb back to the top of English football and we want to stay there.
However, this has to be a long term vision that includes balancing the books, refusing to go into debt while strengthening the club’s off-field structure, and youth development policies.
It’s a vision that will ensure the dark days of Hicks and Co, will never return and owners FSG should be applauded and not ridiculed for sticking to it.