FSG may be resigned to Liverpool transfer reality, and Jürgen Klopp must find a way to handle it

FSG may be resigned to Liverpool transfer reality, and Jürgen Klopp must find a way to handle it

Liverpool Echo Sports·2021-08-20 06:00

The transfer window closes in less than two weeks.The days are passing by and, as of writing, Liverpool still havent sold any players. Well, no players of consequence at least.Yes, Harry Wilson and Marko Gruji left the club (and brought in some much needed capital for FSG), as did Ben Davies on a seasons loan to Sheffield United, but the club havent sold any players that featured with any regularity, or even semi-regularity, for the club over the last couple of seasons.Divock Origi is still at the club, as is Xherdan Shaqiri, Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams.Shaqiri does seem closest to a move away from the club, with recent reports suggesting that Lyon are in talks with Liverpool over a potential sale. But for the moment, hes still on the clubs books.Yet should we get to the end of the window and many of those players are still at Anfield, what becomes of them for the season ahead?Liverpools squad is bloated. Jürgen Klopp has over 30 players to choose from for any given match, and given that only 20 players can be named in the squad for match days, it means a lot of players are subsequently sitting in the stands, looking on. That's not good for the players, for Klopp or for FSG.Even with the club expected to compete and advance far in four different competitions, its difficult to see how those players will receive much playing time. The situation is somewhat bleak for the likes of Phillips and Williams, with the club still boasting some six central defenders.Read MoreRelated ArticlesRead MoreRelated ArticlesVirgil van Dijk, Joël Matip and Joe Gomez have all returned from their long injury layoffs, not to mention the new arrival of Ibrahima Konaté from RB Leipzig. The club are now stacked in centre defence. Realistically, how much playing time will Phillips and Williams both of whom performed admirably in the second half of last season expect to receive this season?Phillips has been linked with a move to Burnley this summer, but nothing concrete has materialised, for now.The same applies for Origi. The Belgian scarcely saw the pitch last season, making only 17 appearances across all competitions, amounting to just 536 minutes. Origi was always a bit-part player at the club, never really challenging the established front three. But even that role of the bit-part player is under severe threat this season.Takumi Minamino has returned from his loan spell at Southampton, and has impressed in pre-season training. Moreover, Harvey Elliott has also returned to the club following a successful spell with Blackburn, and is hoping to break into the first team.Read MoreRelated ArticlesRead MoreRelated ArticlesYet Origis lack of football last season has been counterproductive, as there are no clubs showing genuine interest in signing him, never mind meeting the price FSG are demanding. Therefore its likely Origi will stay at Liverpool this season, receiving even less playing time than last season. Shaqiris good showing for Switzerland at Euro 2020 has put him in the shop window, and it would be a surprise if hes still at the club by the time the window shuts on August 31 st . Shaqiri has stated that he wants regular football, and recognises that he isnt likely to get it at Liverpool. In the end, Michael Edwards and FSG may have to move him on for significantly less than the supposed £13 million they asked for at the beginning of the summer. Can Liverpool shift these players before the window shuts? Only time will tell, ultimately. But at the moment, neither the players, the club, nor FSG win. Read MoreRelated ArticlesRead MoreRelated Articles

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