Liverpool will surely make their move for an Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe type signing next summer. That’s if reports over their transfer plans are correct.
The Independent claims Liverpool don’t expect to sign anyone else this summer. They’ve got Ibrahima Konate but that’s the lot – they’ll likely stick with what they’ve got.
Now, our immediate reaction to that is shock. There are glaring holes in this Liverpool squad and we don’t know why the Reds would wait to fill them.
Gini Wijnaldum’s exit creates the biggest one. Yes, we’d back Thiago, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to be an excellent first-choice midfield but that’s not the issue.
Thiago, for instance, isn’t the same kind of player as Wijnaldum. That means Liverpool change from their title-winning formula without a way to go back.
But more importantly, all three of those players battled injuries last season. Wijnaldum was the only reliable, experienced midfielder in the squad. And now he’s gone.
The attack is worrisome, too. Liverpool lacked depth last season when the stars didn’t perform, especially when Diogo Jota was out injured.
Harvey Elliott may step up but is he enough? Once again, Divock Origi is the only recognised striker in the squad. It just doesn’t feel competitive.
And it all feels very strange given the recent outgoings. Harry Wilson, Marko Grujic and Taiwo Awoniyi all recently left and brought in close to £30m. Isn’t that enough to do something? Especially with more sales to come.
But there is one way we understand Liverpool’s stance. And it’s actually one that just about everyone would back.
Could Liverpool get Haaland or Mbappe?
We recently wrote a piece that went over how Liverpool could spend a transfer budget this summer. One of those ways was simple – wait.
It means doing nothing right now, sticking with what you’ve got, and saving the money for next summer. Because things could explode next summer.
Kylian Mbappe’s contract will be up. Erling Haaland may well be on the move. Liverpool wouldn’t usually have the finances to tempt either but with two years of stockpiling cash? They’d have a chance.
So we wonder if this plan points in that direction – that Liverpool want a superstar next year. It adds up and makes sense.
All three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane will be 30 before the 2022/23 season begins. It’ll be time to move on and try something new.
What better time to splash the cash on a player to build around, then? And it doesn’t get better than Haaland and Mbappe.
Maybe we’re just dreaming here. But maybe we’re not. Liverpool want to preserve their status as one of the world’s best and here comes a once-in-a-decade chance to guarantee that.
And we might be looking at the start of their plan.