Liverpool are looking to lower the average age of the squad during the summer transfer window
Liverpool supporters have coveted Kevin De Bruyne for much of the past decade. So when the transfer whispers hinted at possible Anfield interest in the player this week, the enthused reaction among some was understandable.
The suggestion the Reds had offered De Bruyne a chance to switch to Merseyside after his contract at Manchester City expires in the summer, though, was soon dismissed.
There’s a reason City have opted not to extend the Belgian’s stay at the Etihad despite his deserved legendary status at the club. Even the very best things have to come to an end at some point, and injuries have most certainly caught up with the attacking midfielder in recent years.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta latest Arsenal claim is frankly ridiculous and Liverpool response will say everythingREAD MORE: Liverpool stance on Kevin De Bruyne transfer as shock offer claim emerges
And while Liverpool have long progressed beyond willingly taking on the cast-offs – no matter how great they have been at their peak – of their nearest rivals, there’s another contributory factor to the Reds thus far not being tempted into trying to lure the boyhood fan to Anfield.
De Bruyne will be 34 next month and is believed to be the highest-paid player in the Premier League at present.
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group have already veered from their established model twice in recent weeks by agreeing lucrative two-year contract extensions for both Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, who are both well into their thirties.
Adding to that financial outlay for players whose resale value is now seriously diminished seems unlikely. And, in any case, the commitment to Van Dijk and Salah means Liverpool will otherwise be looking to drive down the average age of the squad during their transfer business this summer.
It is required. Liverpool this season have on average been fielding one of the oldest average starting line-ups in the Premier League.
When the title was secured against Tottenham Hotspur a fortnight ago, the XI averaged an age of 28.26, compared to 24.78 of the Londoners. It was only marginally younger the following week at Chelsea – 28.19 – despite the introduction of a host of fringe players.
Tellingly, Liverpool’s most experienced line-up came in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 clash against Paris Saint-Germain, which had an average age of 28.35 compared to 25.34 of the French side.
Other significant encounters during the season are also instructive. At Arsenal in October, Liverpool’s starting line-up (average age 27.17) was slightly older than that of Arsenal (26.70). Two months later at home to Manchester City, Liverpool (27.48) were younger than the visitors (28.43). But by the rematch in February, the Reds were the older team by some distance with an average age of 27.93 compared to 25.11 with City already having moved during the January window to bring younger legs into their squad.
The youngest side selected by Arne Slot this season has been in the League Cup quarter-final at Southampton (24.72). Intriguing, the competition also saw the two oldest teams Liverpool have faced – West Ham United in the third round (29.58) and Newcastle United in the final (29.04).
Chelsea have the youngest squad in the top flight. Incredibly, their only senior player over the age of 27 is 32-year-old goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, whose sole appearance for the club came more than three years ago.
The Londoners, though, are very much the outlier. Liverpool have eight squad members over 27 – Van Dijk, Salah, Alisson Becker, Wataru Endo, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz – but that pales in comparison to some of their nearest rivals. Arsenal have nine such players, Aston Villa 11, Manchester City 12 and Newcastle a whopping 14.
Liverpool began the season at Ipswich Town with an XI whose average age was 27.46. At the start of the last title-winning campaign in 2019/20, it was 26.04.
The Reds, then, are keen to lower the average age of the squad during the forthcoming transfer window. De Bruyne isn’t the answer in that regard.
