Ft7Ball
Liverpool’s focus is now firmly on the transfer market. After a brilliant end to a disappointing season, the job is to build on the recent momentum in the new campaign.
This will undoubtedly require some additions. Frustratingly, the recent uptick has arguably suggested that a genuine big move like Jude Bellingham might have been the right choice after all, but Liverpool are now on a path to holistic improvement. Yet this could certainly still prove to be the right choice – despite the generational quality of the Borussia Dortmund man – now that Arsenal have found that team depth is essential for anyone who really wants to challenge Manchester City for the title.
Regardless of the route Liverpool take in the transfer market, they are not competing on a completely equal footing with Manchester City. That much should have been obvious already, although the way the Bellingham saga played out provides more evidence.
READ MORE: Liverpool can forget about Mason Mount as scouts have just looked at a cheaper transfer alternative
READ MORE: Liverpool can teach Jude Bellingham a lesson if Jürgen Klopp ‘sends scouts’ to look at ‘$2m’ starlet
The sheer magnitude of the task facing Liverpool is compounded by the sheer number of free-leaving transfers. The Reds will not look for an equal replacement for everyone, but Jürgen Klopp will have to find the right balance. One of his loyal servants seems to have formed a preference when it comes to his next club.
Here are today’s two Liverpool.com stories not to be missed.
Firmino excited about Barcelona
In a sense, Roberto Firmino’s next club doesn’t matter. His departure from Liverpool has been confirmed and the Anfield farewell has already been completed. But fans will be watching with interest to see where a truly era-defining player goes next.
He will certainly be supported from afar, more or less wherever he goes. And with 10 goals in the Premier League this season, he will have no shortage of suitors as a number of clubs are said to have already submitted proposals.
But according to Sport, Firmino is most enamored of Barcelona, despite the Catalan side remaining lukewarm about the prospect of making him an offer. James Martin rounds out the latter, along with a possible surprise attack on West Ham by Klopp.
Read the full story here.
Bellingham sums up the gap between Liverpool and Man City
While neither Liverpool nor Manchester City will sign Bellingham again, the nature of the saga says a lot.
Liverpool faced a stark choice: improve the squad or sign the star. It felt it had no choice but to turn down the star.
That’s the kind of dilemma Manchester City and Pep Guardiola never have to worry about. They haven’t even been the most lavish spenders of late, with net spending looking particularly healthy – even if observers choose to conveniently ignore the fact that a slew of historic big buys are always likely to lead to eventual big sales. But if the manager wants to make a splash, he will be supported.
Last summer, for example, Guardiola got a few team players, including the less spotted Kalvin Phillips, but he also went out and bought Erling Haaland. That’s just not an option for Liverpool, and that puts pressure on every recruitment decision to be perfect.
Read James Martin’s full story here.
Adblock test (Why?)
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings