Jürgen Klopp is now assembling his next squad, and Liverpool has now spent a total of $168 million on new players since it last sold a player in the transfer market.
Fenway Sports Group is a hotly debated subject in Merseyside. It is realistic to assume that 50 Liverpool supporters would take one side and the other 50 would take the opposing side if 100 intelligent Liverpool supporters were to convene at Anfield for a discussion on the ownership group that has controlled their club since 2010.
Indeed, Liverpool has delivered every trophy under the sun during FSG’s tenure, winning the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, Club World Cup, Super Cup and everything in between over the past few years. Jürgen Klopp has guided the ship since 2015, and he’s been supported by elite recruitment, with the Reds proving to be as efficient as it gets in the transfer market.
Whenever things tend to go sour, though, FSG comes under criticism. Last term, for example, Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League table and failed to win a single piece of silverware, with Klopp appearing to suffer from an aging midfield department that had to be revitalized, with key performers progressing beyond their peak years.
FSG quickly assumed the spotlight in the eyes of many supporters. The owners of the Boston Red Sox received criticism for not backing Klopp in the transfer market, and up until this week, the same critique was beginning to surface as Liverpool seemed to go quiet in the market before shocking everybody and landing the signature of Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig.
The Hungarian international demanded a transfer fee of $76m (£60m/€70m) to move from the Bundesliga. The Reds triggered his release clause by paying the full amount (as per the ECHO), meaning Liverpool has now paid a total of around $168m (£132m/€154m) since it last sold a player for a fee.
FSG has always operated with a sell-to-buy policy on Merseyside but in recent windows, players have been bought without funds being made through sales. Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister have all joined this year, and it is worth noting that Darwin Núñez fetched $107m (£85m/€100m) as the replacement for Sadio Mané 12 months ago, who joined Bayern Munich for less than half that amount.
Rather than FSG’s funding being the problem over the past 12 months, it is reasonable to argue that Liverpool’s decision-making in the market has been the bigger factor. When a high-profile deal was sanctioned for Núñez in 2022, the team’s engine room was becoming jaded but rather than a new midfield addition being sourced, Klopp presented James Milner with a one-year extension
FSG has always operated with a sell-to-buy policy on Merseyside but in recent windows, players have been bought without funds being made through sales. Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister have all joined this year, and it is worth noting that Darwin Núñez fetched $107m (£85m/€100m) as the replacement for Sadio Mané 12 months ago, who joined Bayern Munich for less than half that amount.
Rather than FSG’s funding being the problem over the past 12 months, it is reasonable to argue that Liverpool’s decision-making in the market has been the bigger factor. When a high-profile deal was sanctioned for Núñez in 2022, the team’s engine room was becoming jaded but rather than a new midfield addition being sourced, Klopp presented James Milner with a one-year extension.
The veteran performer was 36 years old at the time, yet Klopp wanted to keep him. He also retained the services of Jordan Henderson, who is now aged 33, and Thiago Alcântara, who is now 32. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keïta also stayed at the club, both of whom departed Anfield on free transfers this summer. Liverpool got it wrong last year, and it resulted in an unforeseen decline on the pitch
Overall, the signings of Szoboszlai and Mac Allister suggest that Klopp has learned his lesson from last year. He’s allowed some of his trusted lieutenants to depart — such as Milner and Roberto Firmino — in favor of the next generation. Liverpool knows what it has suffered from since 2022, and that concern is being addressed once and for all.
FSG will continue to be questioned by some supporters, and perhaps rightly so. The funding isn’t always as great as it needs to be when it comes to reinforcements for one of the best coaches in the world, but money has certainly been spent since Liverpool began to navigate its big overhaul.
Ahead of the new campaign in August, the Reds have a fresh midfield and forward line having targeted both of those departments over the past 18 months, with a defender next on the agenda
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