Rating Liverpool’s work in the transfer window

Liverpool made three signings in the summer transfer window.

Michael Edwards concluded deals for Thiago Alcantara, Diogo Jota and Konstantinos Tsimikas.

The transfer activity that Liverpool have had in this transfer window has been superb. It was honestly quite difficult to bring in players who would have an impact on a team that has been untouchable for almost three years.

This window was used to plug a few gaps in terms of options off the bench rather than a squad re-haul that replaced established stars. Liverpool have added depth to the squad to ensure that they can match up to the likes of Manchester City and the keep up with the gruelling schedule of the 2020-21 campaign.

Jurgen Klopp and Edwards managed to crack some scintillating deals which improve depth and experience for the current champions in this transfer window for a net spend of £48 million; but it’s a net spend that includes some outstanding negotiation to ensure Liverpool only paid around £10 million up front for Thiago and Jota.

Player purchases

Thiago Alcantara: The midfield maestro, signed in from Bayern Munich for just £25 million. He ticks all the boxes in terms of ability and temperament. Thiago brings unpredictability and creativity into a rather flat midfield.

Diogo Jota: An industrious player, who has similarities to Sadio Mane in his style of play, made the £45 million switch from Wolves to Liverpool. He has already shown great promise and proved that he is here to push for a starting spot and not stay an option off the bench!

Konstas Tsimikas: Tsimikas was signed for Liverpool from Olympiacos for £12 million and will provide competition and cover to Andy Robertson. In whatever little that we have seen of him, he seems to have slotted right in and this was a deal that needed to be done.

Player sales

Dejan Lovren: One of the most entertaining players in the dressing room, Lovren quit Liverpool to get regular playing time. He shifted to Russia for a fee of £10.8 million, and to be very honest, this was a good fee for a player that had an erroneous defending record who was well into this 30s.

Rhian Brewster: Many were shocked that Liverpool were letting this young starlet leave on a permanent basis. However, the deal worth £23.5 million is structured in a manner that his transfer turns out to be a win-win-win for Liverpool.

Ovie Ejaria: This boy had a bright future but was not able to live up to it. However, selling him for £3 million is a good deal for both parties. Ejaria gets game time at Reading while Liverpool make a handy bit of cash from a player who came up from their youth system.

Klopp does have one headache though.

Liverpool now have 18 senior international players but only 17 can be registered for the Premier League and Champions League. This means either Marko Grujic or Xherdan Shaqiri will be sent on loan to a Championship side or will waste the next two-and-a-bit months.

There are still a couple of weeks left to deal with football teams in the lower tiers within United Kingdom. If they fail to shift then either one of them might have to play this season the U23 side.

My overall grade for this transfer window for Liverpool is ‘A-‘. I would have given them a higher rating if we would have been able to sell a couple of fringe players to break even.