While other teams have a history of dragging out transfer sagas, Liverpool has set the bar high and is still doing so with Jörg Schmadtke.
There aren’t many clubs that can compete with Liverpool in terms of making transfers.
That assertion might be challenged by supporters, especially given the poor transfer window of the previous year led to a trophyless campaign and the team’s inability to advance to the Champions League. However, the Reds don’t mess around when it comes to getting a player’s signature.
Recently, it has occurred on numerous times. Once Liverpool shows interest, it typically moves quickly to sign the player, much to the delight of the supporters, and it typically leads to one of
Back in January 2022, when Tottenham was looking at Luis Díaz, Liverpool swooped in to snatch him from under Spurs’ nose (as per TalkSport). The Reds repeated the trick just months later, acting quickly to secure Darwin Núñez and beat Manchester United to the punch (via the Metro), and the Red Devils were soon on the receiving end of another transfer lesson when Cody Gakpo made the move to Anfield (as per GOAL).
Much of the credit for those deals must go to former sporting directors Michael Edwards and Julian Ward. The pair set the bar for the club’s newest incumbent, and judging by Jörg Schmadtke’s first deal, the German will be picking up where they left off.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s arrival took plenty by surprise. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Hungarian had been little more than a passing mention in the plethora of midfielders being linked with a move to Anfield. Despite being championed on a number of occasions on this very site, it seemed as though Szoboszlai wasn’t really on the radar.
That all changed though early last week. First were the reports of the talks, and by Friday, his release clause had been triggered (as per the ECHO). Just a couple of days later, he was officially a Liverpool player.
Granted, on this occasion, the Reds had little choice but to move quickly in order to beat the deadline on Szoboszlai’s release clause. Having said that, you could certainly imagine a certain Old Trafford club making much more of a meal of the situation before having to negotiate a much higher fee. After all, United has only just confirmed the signing of Mason Mount, despite the transfer having been in the works well before Liverpool’s approach for Szoboszlai.
And it’s not like the Reds didn’t have competition for Szoboszlai’s signature. Newcastle was firmly interested (as per Football Insider), and was perhaps seen as the frontrunner before Liverpool stepped up to the plate.
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