Selling Salah, Trolley Dashes, Smart Late Recruitment or Empty Shopping Baskets?

An 'interesting' two days ahead for Liverpool fans

While I enjoy the process when it's completed, I rarely get too worked up about transfers; albeit I did find the Romeo Lavia bids utterly confusing.

That said, the shouting that I've 'seen' (outside of this site) about how Liverpool MUST sign players NOW, and that the owners MUST back Klopp NOW, just sounds like teenage brats shouting at their parents for buying them a Mercedes and not a Ferrari.

I don't mind criticisms of owners, managers and players; but anything based outside of reality has no place on here.

I binned someone for literally saying that the owners refuse to make money available for big signings, which came about 10 days after the Reds had a British record bid of £111m for Moisés Caicedo accepted by Brighton.

You can criticise the tactics behind going for a player set on Chelsea (or the tactics in the whole overlapping Lavia affair), but if breaking the British record isn't making enough money available to buy a quality player, I don't know what is.

The transfer system is also complicated by Jürgen Klopp's own fastidiousness (he won't take just any old player), plus the tensions of recent summers that have led to Jörg Schmadtke working as temporary DoF – which clearly wasn't an FSG-type appointment.

Without doubt, Schmadtke is Klopp's man (either his choice, or appointed to work with him), and that's fair enough, given that Klopp drives the vision of the club.

A manager with a lesser vision, and less concerned with team harmony and the right kind of player (and unprepared to develop kids), would probably accept less-ideal signings. He'd take more gambles.

As with last summer, there hasn't been quite the joined-up thinking of old, but equally, the need for a bigger squad this season (and Klopp never wants a big squad) is lessened by only being in the Europa League; if necessary, the key players can rest in Europe this season, whereas no one would ever want to do that in the Champions League. It's likely to be a less-intensive season overall; albeit some players are getting sent off, but that means the others are doing extra running.

A bigger squad gives more insurance with injuries, but also, presents more issues in other areas. (And if your players don't play as many minutes in Europe, it reduces the risk of injuries; albeit they can still occur, and sometimes they can be random accidents.)

Which isn't to say that Klopp doesn't want new signings, the club doesn't want new signings, and no one is working on new signings.

It's just not that easy if you are also trying to run the club like a football club, and not like a Ponzi scheme. Chelsea seem to literally think that “Brewster's Millions” was a true story.

The Reds' three major signings so far all appear inspired, and four or five youngsters are ageing into "ready" territory.

If the Reds are so lacking in quality, it's amazing to have played away at big-spending Chelsea and Newcastle, and also played two games with 10 men, and have seven points.

Then there's the Mo Salah conundrum (if a mega-bid from Saudi comes in, as keeps being speculated upon, but doesn't appear to have actually arrived). I'll explain again why Liverpool are in a very strong position, albeit time is very tight.

Plus, moves are mooted for another midfielder and a defender.

I'd be shocked if the Reds don't have some good options lined up – even if buyout-clause based – so as to not end up with another Arthur Melo, should it prove difficult to negotiate with clubs.

Up to this point, Liverpool appear to have got an absolute steal with Dominik Szoboszlai for £60m, given that he's 22, tall, strong, quick, supremely skilful, and has the energy of Gini Wijnaldum drinking James Milner's Ribena. He can be a megastar.

Alexis Mac Allister also looks at home, when not wrongly sent to the stands.

The Reds have already looked more energetic this season, even playing with 10 men most of the time.

So, what happens in the next few days?

I'll ponder some options below, and subscribers can use this as a thread to discuss the transfer deadline deals that are being mooted.

The second half of this article and debate is for paying subscribers only.