A close look at Liverpool’s summer so far

From a roaring decibel level during the season to the realm of calm in the summer, Anfield is in preparation mode for the upcoming season. The new pitch is being laid and seats are being fixed after minor alterations. Banners have been changed while gates of Shankly and Paisley at the entrance are being wiped clean for the rare breed of visitors that flock here during stadium visits.

For those who are paid to don the colors of the club, it is a different scenario. Players don’t crowd the dugout as the dressing room remains silent and empty. They train at Melwood under the tutelary of Liverpool’s coaching staff. Only those who, after being chased persistently, become the club’s summer signings come to Anfield to pose for the hankering tabloids and newspapers.

While the club’s stadium might be not lingering in the echoes of football, Liverpool has been far from silent in this transfer market and summer business. This article looks at Liverpool’s business in the transfer window – the players who have come and gone, and the possible transfers yet to arrive or depart Anfield. It also analyses the developments surrounding the football club including the hyped stadium renovation plans.

Transfers IN

Kolo Toure

The newest addition to put on the sanguine-coloured jersey of Liverpool is Kolo Toure. The Ivorian enjoyed glory days at Arsenal after which he entered his conundrum of the Manchester City project. Constantly being shipped in and out of a Manchester City lineup, Toure has decided to ply his trade at the Merseyside on a free transfer. For him, the expectations will be different. Now in the twilight of his career, Toure will want to earn valuable minutes and use his experience to the maximum before hanging up his boots. He will be slotted directly into the team sheet as Jamie Carragher’s replacement; and provided he makes best use of his game time, he could be Daniel Agger’s partner in the centre of defence.

Luis Alberto

This buy is one for the future. Like Coutinho, this is another one of Brendan Rodgers’s manoeuvres in the transfer window to land a coveted young prospect. While it remains to be seen if Alberto manages to live up to the hype surrounding his name, his potential cannot be questioned. His attacking prowess will see him lie in contention to start on either of Liverpool’s wings or even as the second striker. Alberto flourished in the Barcelona B side where he attracted the attention of the top European clubs. His arrival at Liverpool was imminent for a while; and if he showcases the quality that has earned him this much adulation, he could be the next Spanish sensation at Liverpool. The first few games might be hard for Alberto to break into the first eleven, but his pace and ability to last an entire game could land him a call sooner than expected.

Simon Mignolet

Brendan Rodgers has continually denied claims that Liverpool’s number 1 goalkeeper, Pepe Reina, is set to depart the club. But his decision to buy Simon Mignolet seems to counter that. The Belgian shot stopper played a crucial role in Sunderland staying afloat last season in the Premier League, and statistics indicate that he enjoyed a better season than Pepe Reina did at Liverpool. Mignolet has a good chance to win the starting job over the course of the season, which I hope he does considering Liverpool shelled out nearly 10 million pounds to snag him. But this also means the most unceremonious of exits for Pepe Reina. Either way, Liverpool seems to be keen to have Mignolet for the long run, and selling Reina in January will make more sense financially than letting go of him next season on a cut-price deal.

Iago Aspas

While, at first, everyone was uncertain on the former Celta Vigo player’s prominence in the transfer market, it soon became clear as to why Rodgers pursued the forward with a lot of vigour. Aspas, if Suarez departs, will be the starting centre-forward for Liverpool unless the club decides to splurge cash on another striker. He is also a contributive playmaker who can command the game outside the penalty box. While he might take time to settle into a more physical English game, Aspas’s combination of skill and pace could prove a nuisance to other teams in the Premier League.

Transfers OUT

Jamie Carragher announced his retirement from football while Peter Gulacsi joined Red Bull Salzburg on a free transfer and another outcast, Danny Wilson, joined Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Premier League.

Andy Carroll

The former Liverpool no. 9, who was brought into replace Fernando Torres, turned out to be the biggest flop in the club’s recent memory. His battle with fitness never seemed to jive with his sporadic displays of wonder on the field. The manager’s decision to ship him out on loan last season to West Ham curtailed his chance to earn a place amongst Liverpool’s faithful, as the Hammers made the transfer permanent this summer. In 2011, Liverpool was asked if Carroll would bring them back into the lucrative Champions League. About thirty months later, the answer is pretty evident.

Jonjo Shelvey

A year ago, the midfielder dwindled on path to salvaging a place in a mediocre Liverpool team. As more and more talents were bought by Brendan Rodgers, Jonjo Shelvey disappeared back into the reserves. Shelvey went from being an acclaimed purchase in the pre-Rodgers era to a reserve player. Swansea will make do with his potential, as he looks forward to unravelling his vision and crafty touch that has earned him several U-21 caps.

Potential Transfers IN

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

The Reds seemed to have learned from fiascos of Glyfi Sigurdsson and Clint Dempsey, and will now do what it takes to not fall victim to a ‘more promising’ entity. Reports surfaced that Mkhitaryan would be a Liverpool player in a matter of hours. And then the same newspapers quashed those reports and ruled out the Armenian’s move to Merseyside. Will he come to Liverpool? It could be close, but given Rodgers’s tenacity to land his top targets, he should don the Liverbird on his chest in the next couple of weeks. He might be an expensive transfer, but he has all the requisites to lead Liverpool’s resurgence back into the top 4.

Kyriakos Papadopoulos

Just like his name, Papadopoulos is a mouthful to handle for any team’s attack. He is a fierce competitor who will fit in well next to Liverpool’s calm administrator, Daniel Agger. However, reports of his move to Liverpool began to die down towards the end of June as Schalke have refused to budge with its asking price for Papadopoulos. Unless Brendan Rodgers is willing to throw in 12 million pounds for Papadopoulos, the Greek may be up for grabs by other suitors in the transfer market. If the Mkhitaryan saga ends soon, Rodgers and Liverpool will next shift their attention towards pursuing Papadopoulos.

Victor Wanayama

Anfield’s faithful are unsure as to why Liverpool even needs to buy Wanayama since he plays the same role as Lucas Leiva. While the Kenyan displays a more mobile game of football than Leiva does, Liverpool cannot doubt the commitment evinced by the present man at the role. During the games he missed out due to injury, the club struggled to maintain possession or win the ball back in the middle of the park. If Rodgers wishes to add competition to the starting lineup, he is already achieving that by having Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen in the squad. Adding Wanayama will provide more depth; but the money involved could be used elsewhere.

Tiago Llori

Liverpool could make best use of Sporting Lisbon’s financial crunch to sign a highly touted prospect in Tiago Llori. While Rodgers is keen to proceed with an influx of young talent into the club, he is not going to be able to guarantee game time for the Portuguese should he sign another centre back – a worry to ponder over before Tiago Llori arrives at Anfield. Llori has a belt of U-20 experience with Portugal and is known for his tenacity. He could be moulded into one of Liverpool’s prime defenders in the future.

Potential Transfers OUT

Stewart Downing

Even if Downing can plateau himself as Liverpool’s first-choice winger, he is still going to be linked with an exit. Stewart Downing was never worth the 20 million that Liverpool paid for him. He might be efficient in a stretch of games, but in the long run he is going to burn out. If a club can come up with an offer close to 8-10 million pounds for Downing, Liverpool should offload him. With Brendan Rodgers adding more options on the attack, Downing’s days at Anfield are numbered.

Luis Suarez

He could be the team’s best player, but Suarez’s association with controversies has heaped a pile of dirt on the club’s image. Moreover, his antics with the media don’t seem likely to cease any time soon and he has publicly declared his interest to join Real Madrid. Will Liverpool miss him? Not as much as the hype says, as Liverpool performed clinically in attack during his absence. But do they need to let him go? I think they should as the 40-50 million pounds Liverpool could make of his transfer could be used to sign Mkhitaryan and Papadopoulos.

Martin Skrtel

While the rumour mill had overdriven the Slovak out of Liverpool, his departure looks more and more unlikely as reports seem to have died down. Coming off a remarkable 2011-12, Skrtel did himself no favours with his erroneous showings at centre back. Zenit seem to be interested in buying the defender back, but only for a cut-price deal. A year ago, Man City wanted Skrtel for close to 15 million pounds. Today, he could be shipped out for as much as just 7 million with even the biggest of his admirers, Napoli, taking a back seat. A lesson learned that a single season could inveterately diminish your market value.

Injury updates

Daniel Sturridge is scheduled to return late in September but skipper Steven Gerrard has made a quicker-than-expected recovery from surgery and is now back in training. There have been no return dates set for Joe Allen, Martin Kelly, and Raheem Sterling – who looked to be set to miss the entirety of Liverpool’s pre-season fixtures and the start of the Premier League. A player Liverpool need to be fit sooner than later is first choice centre-back, Daniel Agger. He missed the final two games of last season, but Liverpool fans are hoping for him to start in defence against Stoke in August.

Contract updates

Anfield managed to successfully sign no. 51 Lloyd Jones to his first professional contract. Known for his aerial presence, Jones is one of the club’s most prized assets in the Kirkby setup.

Stadium saga

Liverpool’s boardroom has opted to stay at Anfield and work on a 150 million pound development program. A move to Stanley Park was on the cards, but after a voice of displeasure from the city the management has decided to have a refurbished 60,000 venue at L4 with around 7,000 ‘corporate seats’. Fenway Sports Group has decided to pursue a phased expansion at Anfield rather than proceed with a new 400 million pound stadium.