Liverpool have been the quietest side in the Premier League during this summer’s transfer market.
Other clubs have not exactly been as frivolous as in previous years – Chelsea aside – but all have done more business than the Reds.
As the countdown to the new Premier League season ticks into its final week, Liverpool are still yet to make even a single signing to add to the first-team squad.
That looks set to change, though, with reports suggesting that Arne Slot would like two new attackers signed before the August the 30th deadline.
Liverpool are pushing to get Martin Zubimendi, too, which all begs the question of just how big is the Reds’ transfer budget this summer.
No problem for Liverpool to pay Martin Zubimendi clause
The fee for Zubimendi could be around £52m or so. As he has a release clause in his contract with Real Sociedad, Liverpool would likely need to pay all of this in one go.
While this could be a problem for Liverpool’s bid to sign Zubimendi, football finance expert Adam Williams says there’s no reason the Reds should not be able to do it, and could even spend more afterwards.
“As the Zubimendi deal would require the full fee to be paid upfront, Liverpool would need to have £52m in the bank to get a deal over the line, or be willing to draw on their £300m credit facility – their overdraft, essentially,” Williams exclusively explains to Rousing The Kop.
“The good news is that the first full season at Anfield post-redevelopment will bring in £100m in matchday income.
READ MORE: Richard Hughes is doing something ‘huge’ to convince Martin Zubimendi to join Liverpool
“I would fully expect them to break the £300m barrier in terms of commercial income too, which would be a club record,” adds the expert.
“So ultimately, whether FSG are willing to sanction paying £52m to activate Zubimendi’s release clause will depend on their revenue projections for the season and how the owners would structure the deal.
“I can’t really see a reason why they wouldn’t be willing and able to spend that sort of money, and I would predict that Zubimendi won’t be the last addition this summer.”
Liverpool could spend big this summer
Reports have claimed that Liverpool could sign up to four players this summer. The cost of bringing in a quartet who could strengthen the Reds squad would surely be huge.
According to Williams, though, the Liverpool owners‘ careful managing of finances means that they would have no problem covering costs, in theory at least.
“When it comes to transfer budgets, you’re always looking at two factors,” he says. “One, how much headroom does the club have in terms of PSR. Two, how much working capital do the owners have and are they willing to fund new signings.
READ MORE: Liverpool have turned down more than one offer for £25m player this summer
“In terms of PSR, Liverpool have more headroom by my estimation than pretty much every team in the Premier League besides Man City and Brighton.
“Swiss Ramble, whose analysis I will always defer to on this stuff, projected that they have £173m of PSR capacity at the end of 2023-24,” Williams adds. “So, in theory, they could outspend almost every other club in the Premier League this summer. And Zubimendi’s buyout clause would only use up a fraction of their PSR headroom.
“However, Liverpool’s reticence to spend at the same level as other clubs appears to be because of FSG’s ownership model, which is centred on self-sufficiency. They have more or less broken even in recent season and that’s the way they want it to remain.”
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