Here We Scout: Liverpool FC
If you want to find the secret of Liverpool’s success, the key word is always the same: strategy. A long-term plan on every single player, quick reaction if opportunities appear on the market and a lot of intelligence in the management of every single deal between the board and Jürgen Klopp, who’s always involved in the club’s moves.
Liverpool’s summer was exciting early, because June’s mission was to find a new center forward and Darwin Núñez was a masterpiece: with so many top clubs involved in the race, director Julian Ward’s traveled to Lisbon in mid-June to reach an agreement with Núñez, his agents and Benfica for €80m plus add-ons, a package up to €100m. Liverpool are convinced that Darwin will be a Premier League star for many years, but above all the timing of that deal was perfect.
Núñez has essentially replaced Sadio Mané, a club legend who just after the Champions League final in Paris asked Liverpool to be sold and sign with FC Bayern. The green light was immediate, a huge loss for the Reds if not for Núñez: the perfect solution despite him being a player with different skills. Liverpool also lost Divock Origi, who moved to AC Milan as a free agent.
Liverpool then invested in two more talents for the future, part of the strategy that is confirmed. Fábio Carvalho arrived from Fulham for £7.7m plus add-ons. Klopp is convinced he can become a top player but he will need time, just like Calvin Ramsay, the new left back who joined Liverpool on a £6.5m deal from Aberdeen, as a smart backup to Andrew Robertson.
So the club had an excellent summer looking to both the present with Núñez, and to the future with Carvalho, Ramsey and … Mo Salah. Yes, internally at the club a new contract for their Egyptian talisman was basically seen as another new signing, such is his importance. After long and difficult negotiations, almost to the point of breaking down in March, Liverpool reached an agreement with Salah for a new deal valid until June 2025.
On deadline day, Liverpool added their final piece. In need of an additional midfielder after early-season injuries to Thiago, Naby Keïta and Jordan Henderson, the Reds swooped in to sign Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus; the Brazilian made 31 appearances for the Old Lady across all competitions last season. Klopp will be more than happy with this summer haul, and barring any more bad injury luck, should be able to relax and wait for 2023 when the plan begins anew. Liverpool style.
