Edwards economics beat Klopp’s hugs on transfer deadline day

Economics beat hugs for Liverpool on transfer deadline day.

Sporting director Michael Edwards runs a tight ship at Anfield and makes sure any deals the club does bring in maximum value for money.

Jurgen Klopp tends to operate on a more personal, emotional level. He likes players to play football and has sanctioned deals in the past that allow them to do that.

Ryan Kent was moved on permanently to Rangers to allow him to do just that. Leeds came in with a loan offer, but that was turned down because Klopp felt another short-term move wasn’t in the player’s best interest.

Which is why keeping Marko Grujic, Harry Wilson and Xherdan Shaqiri around the team is so out of kilter with that Klopp likes.

Wilson and Shaqiri are more likely to get minutes than Grujic, who played well in the League Cup but is Liverpool’s 9th choice central midfielder. He has little hope of playing games until January at least, maybe longer.

There were offers coming in for all three, but none of them hit the valuation that Edwards placed on their head – said The Athletic’s James Pearce. Liverpool were also unwilling to let them leave on loan.

Which brings a bit of an uncomfortable contrast to what we know about the manager. Klopp is seen as someone who keeps his players happy and engaged and doesn’t want anyone around the squad who isn’t completely motivated.

How motivated are players like Wilson, Grujic and Shaqiri going to be? They know their time at the club is over and that minutes will be rarer than a Roberto Firmino clinical finish.

Finances have kept them here and they’ve become prisoners of the spreadsheets. There’s no guarantee that January will bring more willing buyers, and the trio face a wasted season sat on the sidelines.