Journo speaks to Michael Edwards; says trend of Alisson-like deals will continue

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Liverpool will not be making big moves in the transfer window this summer, unless an opportunity too good to miss presents itself.

But that’s not because we are not in a position to do so. Financially, Liverpool are flush – following a second consecutive run to the Champions League Final. And we’ve never been a more attractive side for potential targets to join – for the same reason.

It’s just that after nearly four years of Jurgen Klopp being in charge, the squad is pretty much ‘done’!

However, when we do need to pay attention to a particular position, we’ll be investing heavily to secure the very best – much like we did with Alisson and Virgil van Dijk.

That’s according to respected journalist Jonathan Northcroft, who is basing his claims on conversations with Liverpool’s Director of Football Michael Edwards.

“I think this is a sign of Liverpool’s evolution. They’ve been building towards getting themselves in this position probably for six years now,” he told The Transfer Window podcast, transcribed by T.I.A.

“And I spoke to Michael Edwards, the sporting director, about this last year.

“They feel they’ve gone through that phase of trying to sign in volume and trying to sign players to develop, to take the club forward on the pitch, to a position where they are almost complete.

“I think that’s the phrase I heard around Liverpool, talking about transfers last year: almost complete.

“That doesn’t mean complacent about anything, but that means a feeling that they’ve got a high-grade squad, high-grade players in most positions, and most importantly that the manager really identifies with and wants.

“And now they’re in a position where they can just pick off—they feel—the top players that they need at the top end of the market.

“So Van Dijk and Alisson for world-record fees, I think is a trend that we’ll see continuing.

“And I expect to see Liverpool biding their time, trying to sort out smaller deals—outgoings, like Simon Mignolet for example, some of the younger players going on loan, tying up Divock Origi on a new contract, which I expect to happen.”

In fairness, there isn’t one particular position where you can say Liverpool need to spend big money on a first-team starter.

With Fabinho coming into his own at no.6, and Naby Keita finding his feet towards the end of the season, there’s no room in midfield for the mysterious ‘playmaker’ many Reds have deemed a necessity.

Obviously, the defence and the attack are set in stone, with the only debate about a starting spot regarding who’ll play alongside van Dijk. In Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren, we have a healthy three-way battle.

What we do require is another left-back, another backup keeper on Simon MIgnolet’s departure – and maybe some exciting teenagers to bolster our bench and U23 side.

But a side that earned 97 points in the Premier League and won the Champions League is in a fairly strong position already!

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