5 transfer lessons Liverpool must learn from last summer

As both Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have found in recent years, receiving a massive paycheck for a star player is a curse as much as a blessing.

Replacing Gareth Bale and Luis Suarez has proved impossible for the two clubs despite the £85m and £75m they were handed respectively, and the Reds now face another similar challenge this summer.

Raheem Sterling has become their key man this season, but is set to leave after failing to agree a new contract.

Liverpool could receive as much as £50m for the youngster, but they must learn the lesson of last summer’s transfer window failings if they want to challenge in the Premier League next term.

One big star is better than seven half-baked prospects

World class players don’t grow on trees, but instead of hedging their bets with a clutch of smaller deals, Liverpool would be better off plunging all their resources into one superstar to replace a key player like Sterling.

Don’t just target one overachieving club

No-one will argue that Southampton were impressive in the 2013/14 season, but splashing out around £50m on Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert was a huge gamble on Liverpool’s part.

Sizeable fish at smaller clubs do not always enjoy being plunged into the bigger pond of a top side, and picking up three such players in one fell swoop was always a recipe for disaster.

Look beyond recent form

One solid season doesn’t make someone a £20m player, and Lovren’s largely disastrous spell at Lyon should have raised red flags at Anfield.

This time around the Reds are reportedly ready to plunge £30m into Aston Villa’s coffers for Christian Benteke, who has played well in roughly 10 matches this season.

Stats aren’t always what they seem

Mario Balotelli’s record of 30 goals in 54 games for AC Milan seems decent enough, however 15 of those strikes came from dead-ball situations, including 10 from the penalty spot.

15 goals from open play in 54 matches is hardly ideal for your new star striker, especially when he offers little off the ball.

Give the manager what he wants

There are undoubtedly benefits to having a transfer committee in place, the main one being long-term stability in your approach to signing players whatever happens to the manager.

However, that manager is the person who has to work with the new arrivals, and it’s clear that Brendan Rodgers, like Andre Villas-Boas at Spurs, was not entirely on board with every signing made.

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