I’m probably repeating myself - bit of dementia likely creeping in, plus day off and no game today...
The team and squad is of a high enough level that we don’t need to go and buy loads. Assuming everyone stays who we want to stay, I think we can get everything we need with a reasonable spend - the sort of money that is well within our means, even accounting for the large outlay on improved contracts to reward our great players and also keep them here. Something like this:
Striker - £60M
Timo Werner would be ideal. The fee is a pure guess. There were some reports he would go for much less, but I can’t see that. I know his contract is running down but lots of top teams would want him, so the money will need to be paid. He plays centrally or from the left. He scores goals. He has good pace. He is pretty direct. He is young and is about to come into the start of what should be some very productive prime years.
Is there a place here for him? Yes, of course! Four good players for three spots, no problem. And even if all four played, you could see Werner left, Mane right, Salah through the middle, and Firmino behind them.
We represent a very compelling project and we should be challenging for the Prem and in the latter stages of the CL for a few years here, under Klopp. Mind you, Bayern Munich, at the worst, challenge for the Bundesliga year in year out (usually they win it) and even if they are in a bit of a transition with renewing some older players, you can’t see them not being regulars at the sharp end of the CL. So it’s all up to the player and where he sees himself. If we don’t sign Werner, it needs to be someone at that sort of level, with some versatility too.
We’ve cleared the decks with the sales of Ings (fee to come) and Solanke. You would have to think Origi will follow, and when he does, that’s the fee near enough covered. Sturridge will likely leave too, which helps on the wages. A little clear out also makes space for Brewster to start to get some minutes here and there.
Central defender - £50M
Not sure who, but maybe Militao as he seems very highly rated. De Ligt would be great, but I can’t see us doing that sort of fee. We’ve also seen Tarkowski linked and I wouldn’t say no to that. Lovren and Matip are great quality for a third and fourth choice, but the injury record isn’t good enough, so I’d be happy enough to sell one, or even both, depending on incoming. But we need a third option to go with VVD and Gomez - high quality, and will see plenty of action. I think we will get at least £20M from the sale of Lovren or Matip to offset the cost of incoming.
Left Back - £20M
Moreno will be off. Not sure who we should get here. I remember the tall lad was mentioned a while ago, think it was Lloyd Kelly. I admit I haven’t seen him, but I am confident in our scouts, and if they like the cut of his jib, bring it on. I think I remember he could also cover central defence, so depending on what happened there, if we sold both Lovren and Matip, our options could be VVD, Gomez, Militao/Tarkowski and Kelly.
Beyond those three signings, I think Wilson should come back and replace Lallana.
Then we are looking at goalkeeper. As a mid ranking Prem goalie, Mignolet is a good age and quality for a number two for a top team. If he wants to leave to play elsewhere, fine. We would then need Heaton or someone like that. We have highly rated young keepers, but I’m not sure I want one of them coming in for Alisson at this stage. However, if that’s the way it goes, then I’ll back it, as the coaches see them day in and day out, and presumably they are coaching them to try to play the same sort of proactive goalkeeping style.
All five could be done for the usual sort of outlay, not the Coutinho-fee splurge we enjoyed last summer. The squad would be younger, the quality higher, the home grown quota beefed up, and it would all be financially doable.
