With Hugo Ekitike set to sign as Liverpool’s pre-season tour commences, is their transfer business set to continue throughout the summer? …
ANOTHER name in then. Possibly. Not sure.
There’s no photo of Hugo Ekitike holding up a Liverpool scarf above his head yet, but the big names are calling it a done deal.
If they’re right then a new season with the signings of Ekitike, Wirtz, Frimpong and Kerkez looks like good business. Incredible, even. More than that it’s a clear statement of intent. Liverpool want to defend the League title and win the Champions League. You’ve got to love that level of ambition.
What’s more, it’s unlikely that it’ll end there. If Nunez goes (which seems likely) along with Diaz (God knows) we’ll still need another number 9 and another forward. Even then, we’re still ropey when it comes to centre-back cover, particularly if Madrid are up to their old tricks with Ibou, so that needs addressing.
The sheer speed of the transfers has been impressive and speaks to a planned strategy rather than the usual scattergun policy adopted by other clubs, including Liverpool, in the past. Last season saw only the arrival of Fede Chiesa and now we’re spending. Spending big.
Last season, Arne Slot won the league with another man’s squad so it’ll be fascinating to see what his own lads can do. I’m especially interested to see where Frimpong and Kerkez start. Both like to maraud forward, so will we still be seeing Andy Robertson and Conor Bradley in the full-back roles with the new lads in more advanced roles?
Where will Wirtz play? Will Ekitike be a wider forward rather than the traditional number 9 – or will that be where Isak will play?
Yeah, I know.
I don’t like talking about other players when they’re not ours. It all seems a bit entitled. Like we somehow deserve him more than his current club does. The odious Real Madrid do that all the time and I’d rather we weren’t the same, but it’s hard not to dream. What a player he is!
At the moment though, he’s Newcastle’s player and I can understand why they’re not keen on selling him. He’s their Salah and we all know what it felt like when his future looked uncertain. It’d be nice but …
As a rule, I don’t get involved in the constant need to buy anyone/everyone and the whole FSG debate. I’m not keen on them but seldom do I frown at their transfers. We’ve become a serious club again over the past nine years and they’ve played a part in that. After all, they were criticised for not adding to the squad after the sixth European Cup in 2019 and we went on to win the title at a canter the following season. It can be frustrating at times, but if it works …
It’s been a difficult summer, and I wish we didn’t have to replace one particular player, but the level of ambition has been heartening. I want to see them all play. I want to see what the shape is. I want to see what the second half shape is. I want to see what the substitutes can do. I want to see Liverpool surprise me again.
The summer spending isn’t over yet. I feel sure of that, but it’s good to see we’re shopping in the right shops again. We’re buying starters and we’re buying them ahead of other clubs and rivals. Everyone wants a new ‘9’ this season. I hope we can get another, even if it’s not that one.
But I’ll take that one all the same. Entitled, maybe, but I can dream.
