We're actually in a very weird position when it comes to incoming players. You look at it objectively, ignore personal opinions on players and transfers, who you rate and not, and just look at transfermarkt, the vast majority of our starting 11 are in the top five in their position in the world. (Both fullbacks, VVD, and Salah are the "most expensive" in their position, Alisson, Fabinho, Firmino, Mane are all top five.)
So any player coming in has a lot of boxes to tick. Aside from having the quality to unseat some of the best in the world, they also have to pass the Klopp test - fit the system, mentality, and also the dressing room camaraderie. Just purely in terms of quality, you could count the players on your fingers who'd get into the side who aren't already on our books, and that's not knowing whether or not they'd actually fit/be available.
Alternatively, they have to be "lesser" players, lads who are comfortable coming in to play second fiddle and bide their time, hope that an opportunity presents itself maybe. But they still have to pass that Klopp test - we're not changing the ethos for any one player.
So we have a lot of talk about square pegs in round holes, but we're actually looking at fitting players into a really, really, really weirdly shaped hole, and there just aren't that many out there. And we know for sure that the club won't compromise on that. Lemar was available, the money was there, we walked away. VVD fell apart, and rather than going to another choice, we waited. Klopp wanted Keita, Rangnick wouldn't let him go that season, so we waited.
End of the day, yeah its frustrating we're not unveiling more world class players. I agree. I'm excited about Ox being back, but I think Lallana is light years from being a scrap of help, and there are another 12 months of fatigue added to the legs of the squad as it is. I think Ketia will be a better player this season (at least I fucking hope so).
FWIW, I think Mbappe 2020 will happen. I think we want him, I think we'll get him, but like with Keita and VVD we'll have to wait for him and the club are content to keep the powder dry to make it happen. (And I'd rather they did that than pull a repeat of the Andy Carroll incident)