Liverpool owner John W. Henry gave an odd answer when quizzed about his club’s likely spending this summer.
The American is in England right now and attended the Chelsea defeat at Stamford Bridge at the weekend.
But despite Liverpool qualifying for the Champions League Final this season, our net spend since 2014 is a measly £18m – around £4.5m per season – or £2.25m every window…
https://twitter.com/TheMightyReds_/status/991674540643225602
We’ve spent £443m in total during these four years, but this been almost entirely made up of expensive player sales, such as Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Coutinho, who left for £142m in January and wasn’t replaced.
Henry though suggested investment in the playing squad is already happening…
“We always invest in the squad every summer,” he said, quoted in the Star.
“We realise that any team that goes this deep in the Champions League has a difficult time in the Premier League.
“You have to focus your attention where you can and keep your players healthy playing twice a week.
“We’re looking forward to next season as well.”
In fairness, unlike many Liverpool fans, we think our spending habits are more to do with Jurgen Klopp and his insistence on getting the right player at the right price than Henry’s tight pursestrings.
After all, instead of buying a new centre-back last summer, Klopp waited until January and the club splashed out £75m on van Dijk, making him the most expensive defender in the game’s history.
More skeptical supporters will claim this is only because the owners knew to expect a Coutinho windfall – but with no big players set for an exit this upcoming window – we think proper money’s going to be spent.
Naby Keita is already confirmed, while Nabil Fekir is close to completion as well, the Mirror accounts.