Seven new faces, eleven players sold and two released, plus seven players sent out on loan. This is the result of what promised to be, and what effectively turned out to be an extremely intense summer for Liverpool FC.
New signings Downing, Enrique and Adam have already given account of themselves, while Henderson is beginning to blossom nicely. Late newcomers Coates and Bellamy helped put the cherry on the cake as they both are in effect excellent deals. Coates has the pedigree, potential and confidence to become a Liverpool favorite and we all know what Bellamy is capable of (on and off the pitch!), and under Kenny’s guidance the Welshman will most definitely thrive. Finally we have two players that can offer depth on both sides of the pitch!
This transfer window has been successful not only because FSG have exceeded expectations in providing transfer funds, but also because the announced mass exodus happened. The dead-wood list has now been cleared guys. So no more complaining please!
A special mention for the departure of Raul Meireles! Though the rumour mill churned up headline after headline, most of us perhaps hoped he would stay. In the end, the player handed in a transfer request and I think that businesswise the Club made a good deal. Raul was perhaps one of the few positives coming out from last season. Pity he was not prepared to stay and fight for his place, that’s unless he was told or sensed he was not longer part ‘of the plans’.
This re-model has cost, from the amounts touted on the media, a figure close to Stg 42 million. The sale of Kyrgiakos, Poulsen and Insua might have contributed to reduce that amount further, even thought their deals remain undisclosed. We find ourselves with a leaner squad but definitely and without any doubt we have more quality and the average age has plummeted drastically. We are still catching our breath from this session, but I am sure the fine tuning will continue in January!
Arrivals:
JORDAN HENDERSON – 20 YEARS – MIDFIELDER – (Sunderland) – Stg 20 million
CHARLIE ADAM – 25 YEARS – MIDFIELDER – (Blackpool) – Stg 8 million
DONI – 31 YEARS – GOALKEEPER – (AC Roma) – Free Transfer
STEWART DOWNING – 26 YEARS – WINGER – (A.Villa) – Stg 20 million
JOSE ENRIQUE – 25 YEARS – LEFT BACK – (Newcastle) – Stg 6 million
SEBASTIAN COATES – 20 YEARS – CENTRE BACK (Nacional) – Stg 7 million
CRAIG BELLAMY – 32 YEARS – FORWARD – Free Agent
Departures:
PAUL KONCHESKY – LEICESTER CITY – Stg 1.5 million
CHRIS MAVINGA – RENNES – Stg 1 million
MILAN JOVANOVIC – ANDERLECHT – free
TOM INCE – BLACKPOOL – undisclosed
DANIEL AYALA – NORWICH CITY – Stg 800,000
NABIL EL ZHAR – LEVANTE – released
SOTO KYRGIAKOS – WOLFSBURG – undisclosed
EMILIANO INSUA – SPORTING LISBON – undisclosed
CHRISTIAN POULSEN – EVIAN – undisclosed
DAVID NGOG – BOLTON – Stg 4 million
RAUL MEIRELES – CHELSEA – Stg 12 million
PHILIPPE DEGEN – released
Out On Loan:
STEPHEN DARBY to ROCHDALE
PETER GULASCI to HULL CITY
MARTIN HANSEN to BRADFORD CITY
DANI PACHECO to ATLETICO MADRID (RAYO VALLECANO)
ALBERTO AQUILANI to AC MILAN
JOE COLE to LILLE
VILLYAN BIJEV to FORTUNA DUSSELDORF
Total Outlay: + Stg 42 million net spend (not including undisclosed transfer fees)