Fenway Sports Group have shown themselves to be canny operators in the transfer market for Liverpool in one area in particular
The transfer window isn’t all about big-money signings. And as Liverpool have discovered to their cost this season, spending big bucks doesn’t automatically equate to instant success.
Fenway Sports Group, though, have forged a transfer reputation during their Reds stewardship as canny and opportunist operators in the market. If there’s a bargain to be had, they will be interested.
Sometimes, as with Jeremie Frimpong last summer and Alexis Mac Allister two years before that, it comes from good contacts and knowledge that unearths release clauses or other such contractual stipulations from which Liverpool could save money and steal a march on other potential suitors.
But another approach, most prominent during the Jurgen Klopp era, was to raid relegated Premier League clubs for their leading talent.
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One such player is Andy Robertson, who will depart on a free transfer at the end of season after nine years, almost 400 appearances and a glut of honours. He was bought for £10million from Hull City after the Tigers suffered the drop in 2017.
The previous year, Gini Wijnaldum was snapped up from Newcastle United for £25million after they went down, and became a mainstay in the Liverpool starting line-up for the next five years.
And while Xherdan Shaqiri didn’t make an impact over the same length of time, he did more than enough to justify his £13.75m fee from relegated Stoke City in 2018.
With Liverpool needing further depth in their squad, they will have to once again be clever with their spending this summer. And there are some players to be picked from those clubs who either already have or could be set to slip into the Championship, thus threatening their value and increasing a desire to seek a new challenge.
Scott Parker left Burnley by mutual consent on Thursday despite having taken the Clarets back into the top flight last year, and in truth there are no players at Turf Moor who would strengthen Arne Slot’s present resources.
The same, though, cannot be said for Wolves, who were the first team to be confirmed as relegated. Teenage forward Mateus Mane is highly rated while midfield Joao Gomes is expected to leave with Atletico Madrid and Crystal Palace interested. Another midfielder, Andre, was linked with Liverpool three years ago.
With Leeds United having reached the magical 40-point mark, it realistically leaves three teams fighting to avoid becoming the other to go down.
Nottingham Forest should be safe but could become distracted by their Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa. England midfielder Elliot Anderson would be the big catch there with Morgan Gibbs-White and Omari Hutchinson also valued.
West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, however, are the two most at risk. For the Hammers, winger Jarrod Bowen would be the prize name although, aged 29, his age could make any Liverpool move prohibitive. More in the right range are 21-year-old midfielder Mateus Fernandes and 24-year-old winger Crysencio Summerville.
And should Tottenham go down, the fire sale there would be eye-watering. For what the Reds need, young midfielders Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall would be near the top of the list, along with centre-back Micky van de Ven, right-back Pedro Porro and winger Mohammed Kudus. None of them, though, would likely be cheap.
Liverpool will already be doing their due diligence. And history has taught us that they are often in the right position to pounce should they feel an opportunist swoop is possible.
