How do you improve almost perfectly? This is the approach with which Liverpool are now struggling to continue the transformation into the second team of Jurgen Klopp from his tenure at Anfield.
Having been defeated by a point for the Premier League title and a goal for the Champions League crown, with the League Cup and FA Cup already secured, it may be that, at least in terms of gross figures, it just seems a little more necessary to save the crack.
This final step, however, is always the most difficult, especially when the constant evolution of the Liverpool team has seen the inevitable break with Klopp’s previous key principles.
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No less important in attack, where the triumvirate of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino started together in just five of the 63 games this season. Diogo Jota and, more recently, Luis Díaz are now regular candidates for a role.
In any case, it seems that Mané has played his last game against Liverpool with Bayern Munich preparing a second offer to attract the Senegalese. And with Salah still stalled by a new deal, as things stand, he will soon enter his final season as a Reds player. Also Firmino, although it is understood that the Brazilian would be receptive to a contract extension in case of arrival. Divock Origi is already gone, with doubts about the long-term future of Takumi Minamino.
Julian Ward, who takes over from Michael Edwards as sporting director, faces a costly task of continuing to rebuild the attack.
In recent years, the job has been to attract strikers who knew they had to be forced into the top three. Although not all possible signings had the possibility of not having guaranteed playing time, Jota faced the challenge head on.
Now, however, the goal is to refuel the attack without much loss of quality. And this will not be cheap.
Salah and Mane – and to a lesser extent Firmino – were not quite the finished article when they arrived in Liverpool for £ 43.9 million and £ 30 million, respectively. Good players, yes. But working at Liverpool made them great, among the best in the world at its peak. They have set the bar for those who follow.
It is impossible, especially from a financial point of view, to replace him instantly as it seems, as Liverpool follow his proven and confident formula of looking for established talent that they feel can be improved at the AXA Training Center. A list of possible substitutes has been drawn up in the event of the departure of Mane, a younger striker with the ability to play in the center of the preferred goal.
The problem is that everyone knows the situation of the reds. And that will only increase the asking price of any player, even if Liverpool are bolstered by Mane’s sale funds with any potential suitors forced to reach £ 40m before seriously entertaining an offer.
Take the case of Darwin Núñez. Although he is a much-admired player for Klopp and the hiring team, the reported price of £ 85 million is simply too expensive. Manchester United and Newcastle United, who are believed to be considering a move for the 22-year-old, can afford to pay the striker’s odds. Liverpool will not do so, following the principles that have served them well in the transfer market of Klopp and Fenway Sports Group. If Benfica wants to do business at a price that the Reds consider more realistic, things could change.
Núñez has a lot of development left, similar to other players Liverpool have been linked with in previous transfer windows, such as Jonathan David from Lille, a center-forward, and Jarrod Bowen from West Ham United, who has more out.
At least the Reds know that with Klopp revered as one of the best coaches in Europe and the success of his tenure making Anfield a sought-after destination, persuading potential goals is no longer as important a problem as it was just five or so years ago. six years. .
But continuing to change the front line within the long-established transfer parameters will be a test for the similarly evolving Ward and Liverpool recruitment team.
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