Reports suggest that Willian was the third big money signing that Liverpool missed out on this summer, having failed to capture both Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk and Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid.
If you believe the reports, which in itself can be dangerous, then it seems that Liverpool missed out on Willian due to financial reasons, whilst the failure to land either Mkhitaryan or Costa is being blamed on a lack of Champions League football.
Despite being one of the biggest clubs in the world, the fact remains that this is a club that since coming so close to winning the title in 2008/09 has finished 7th, 6th, 8th and 7th. This must be off putting for any potential top quality new arrivals, especially those who are currently plying their trade at Champions League clubs. It is for that reason I ask; are Liverpool being too ambitious in the transfer market?
Some might read that and scoff, after all this is Liverpool Football Club, the most successful club in English football history. I can see where these people are coming from, but the fact remains that at this stage, Liverpool still look a long way away from competing for the top honours and that will put trepidation in the minds of targets.
Perhaps Liverpool should set their transfer ambitions a bit lower, and look for the type of players that they signed in January 2013? The quality of both Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho was obvious to those who had seen them previously, but both had question marks next to their name. It turns out that these players, with the help of Brendan Rodgers and the Liverpool coaching staff, have erased these question marks and look to be fantastic additions, with both starting off against Stoke City where they left off last season.
You hear the phrase ‘marquee signing’ a lot, it’s one of those phrases that is banded about but means very little. People bang on about how this mythical ‘marquee’ signing is the key to finishing in the top four this year, and how without one, clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal have no chance of competing. We also hear that a ‘marquee signing’ is needed to appease some of the fans, who despite the club being on a run of ten consecutive league games without defeat – dating back to the end of March last season – are becoming a bit restless.
Perhaps Liverpool need to ignore the clamour for that big money ‘marquee signing’, and instead Plan D could be to buy two or three ‘rough diamonds’ in the hope that Rodgers and his staff can polish them into dazzling jewels, after all they’ve got a record of being able to do just that.
If this does become the case, I think we, as a fan base, need to accept that. It’s easy to be jealous when you see other clubs flashing the cash, especially those like Tottenham Hotspur who are one of Liverpool’s main rivals for a Champions League spot this season. Having said that, spending massive money doesn’t always guarantee success, and if Liverpool can finish this summer of transfer activity by recruiting a few players like the two they signed in January, then despite the lack of this magical, all knowing, all conquering ‘marquee signing’, the club will still be in a good position to challenge for a place in the Champions League.
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