Report shows off Liverpool’s extreme but exciting transfer plan that leads the entire Premier League

Add as preferred source on Google

A report shows how Liverpool’s transfer plan is leading the Premier League right now. The Reds are performing as planned.

The Athletic put out a report this week on the age profile of Premier League transfers. The conclusions are interesting, particularly when it comes to Liverpool.

The Reds actually have the lowest average age of their transfers over the last 10 years. It sits at 23 years and four months – five months younger than the next lowest, Brentford. That’s the largest gap between any two places apart from the other end of the scale, where West Ham United are six months older than Leicester City.

It’s an extreme stance from Liverpool. Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United – the three sides who typically shop in the same market – are all in the top half of the rankings. The Reds instead sit amongst Brentford, Leeds United and Southampton.

That’s notable as all three clubs typically sell players on. Their investment strategy is to pick up young players, develop them and sell for a profit at the cusp of their prime.

Liverpool are instead a side looking to compete with players in their prime. Unlike rivals, however, they pick up the players and develop them in order to use them for those years.

Liverpool’s transfer plan

That idea is highlighted in Liverpool only signing four players aged 30 or above. That’s again the fewest in the Premier League over the last decade – the Reds just aren’t particularly interested in signing players purely for the short-term.

Of course, it’s a plan that can reward greatly. It’s all about backing your coaches – and your scouts – and believing that these players will develop into what you predict, rather than signing a completely known player.

Liverpool’s record shows how they’ve nailed that. Their success in recent years is built on buying players and turning them into stars themselves. Some of those players arrived with dented reputations, in fact, but the Reds backed themselves regardless.

It’s also worth noting, too, that this plan isn’t necessarily Jurgen Klopp’s. The average age of signings was roughly the same under Brendan Rodgers (23 years and eight months), suggesting this is the club’s idea. Klopp is simply making it work to perfection.