A sleeping giant awakens? Liverpool busy in transfer window
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For what seems like an eternity, Liverpool haven’t competed in the Champions League.
For many top sides like themselves, Arsenal and Tottenham, reaching Europe’s premier club competition is essential, but they need the players to get them there.
Having been in charge for a full season, Brendan Rodgers is under immense pressure to try and get Liverpool into the Champions League for the first time since 2009.
To try and achieve that goal, the former Swansea boss has tried to overhaul the squad with some success.
In his first season, the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Joe Allen made their way to Anfield for big money moves, with the first two making a big impression.
Allen and Italian striker Fabio Borini have yet to shine and may be cast aside this coming season.
This summer could be far more intense as far as transfer activity is concerned. Already, Rodgers has brought in a total of four new players, while £35m flop Andy Carroll and middling young midfielder Jonjo Shelvey have departed.
Of the new arrivals to date, Spanish striker Iago Aspas (pictured above) looks like being the most important. The £7m ace from Celta Vigo scored 12 goals in his first season in La Liga for a team that narrowly avoided relegation back to the second tier.
Also arriving are promising Spanish winger Luis Alberto from Sevilla for £6.8m, Kolo Toure on a free transfer from Manchester City and £9m Belgium ‘keeper Simon Mignolet from Sunderland.
Mignolet’s arrival is curious, especially with the presence of Pepe Reina at the club.
While they’ve made a good start, it doesn’t seem like Liverpool are done yet. An ultimately fruitless pursuit of £20m midfielder Henrik Mkhitaryan of Shakhtar shows that they’re after more goals, while a possible loan move for France left-back Aly Cissokho of Valencia looks likely.
What will determine how much they have to spend on more players is the situation regarding Luis Suarez. The controversial striker has bundles of talent, but he has made it clear that he wants to leave.
If he does depart, then Rodgers may be given an additional £40m to spend, although the bulk of that may be on a replacement for the Uruguayan.
Whether or not Suarez is with the club by September 2nd, Liverpool will need further reinforcements.
A central defender would be useful, as would someone to replace Steven Gerrard in the long-term. Once those two players arrive, Liverpool may look more capable of getting into the top four for the first time in five years, making their odds of 13/8 to do so seem like great value!
