Transfers, Trent, Slot, and a Summer of Change

Deep dive on squad, what's needed, and much more

It’s only a week until the deadline for FFP/PSR fire-sales.

While I agree with the financial regulations in general, an unintended consequence is that clubs are selling homegrown talent as these count as pure profit, with no outstanding transfer amortisation. That’s a little sad.

But clubs still don’t have to choose to sell those players; and those who get into FFP issues from crazy overspending are making their own beds to lie in. If you overspend, you can expect to have to tighten your belts.

While Arne Slot, coolly impressive during his opening interview, won’t be choosing the players, he’ll clearly discuss profiles of what he wants.

I think Slot worked with maybe three or four players last season who could make the switch to Liverpool, even if he may end up with none of them. Two of them seem to be up for sale.

Newcastle teenager Yankuba Minteh, loaned to Feyenoord, is up for sale, according to the Athletic, and while Slot knows Minteh, Richard Hughes knows Eddie Howe incredibly well, with Howe probably making the decisions with Dan Ashworth on gardening leave and no replacement in place. (“Yankuba Minteh appears the most likely asset they can offload for a decent return before the end of the month.”)

That said, it also says that Everton are leading the charge for Minteh, and there may be some issues with him that I’ll get onto. (Also, presumably Chelsea will sign him, just because.)

This week could be when it all gets interesting, as plenty of clubs have little leeway beyond June 30th. Next Saturday could become a second, earlier transfer deadline day, when teams panic-sell; but equally, there’s not too much pressure to do it too early, if they think they can hold out for more. The end of this week could be when all the action happens.

Then again, Nottingham Forest tried this with Brennan Johnson last summer, and it cost them points in the league. But maybe that’s a lesson others have now learnt.

Also, before getting onto what Liverpool are doing, Premier League teams under FFP/PSR pressure seem to be selling to each other. Chelsea, Aston Villa, Everton and Newcastle are looking to exchange their pure profit players with one another. It feels a bit iffy, as values can be skewed in a quid pro quo, but presumably still within the rules.

If your youngsters aren’t quite good enough, it makes sense to sell them at some point, but it’s also selling players connected and imbedded at the club. It makes clubs more soulless and won’t make youngsters want to join your club (unless you pay them too much, which reduces their hunger, and they’re there as assets, not prospects).

Some headlines:

“Chelsea are closing in on signing attacking midfielder Omari Kellyman from Aston Villa for a reported £19m.”

“Everton have signed midfielder Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa for a reported £9m.”

Edit: and now, “Aston Villa have signed forward Lewis Dobbin from Everton for an undisclosed fee,” while Chelsea continue to spend: “Brazilian winger Estevao Willian will join Chelsea next summer while the club is also in talks to sign Argentine defender Aaron Anselmino.”

Chelsea are also closing in Jonathan David, as well as David Jonathan, Jonathan Davies, Dave Johnson, Johnson Johnson, Johnson & Johnson, Goodluck Jonathan, Jhon Duran, Duran Duran, John Taylor, Taylor Taylor, Courtney Taylor-Taylor and David Davies.

Man United, having wasted hundreds of millions on misfits and old farts, are also sailing close to PSR limits, and so are trying to bid half of what Everton want for Jarred Branthwaite.

Everton are looking to sell Dominic Calvert-Lewin to Newcastle (for pure profit after all these years at Goodison), as Newcastle can’t seem to get enough of injury-prone players, and Newcastle maybe sell them, in return, the aforementioned Minteh.

I like the look of Minteh a lot, but there are various interesting young wingers out there, and also the pathway for Ben Doak to consider.

The injury to Doak meant we didn’t get to see if he was already taking that next step, from massive potential to first-team ready. He will almost certainly be a top player, but 2024/25 could be a season too soon.

More than any other summer, this feels like Liverpool have 25 or more of the best puzzle pieces, but a new manager trying to slot (no pun intended, albeit this could get awkward) them together: a mixture of new players still settling or about to start settling; younger players who are emerging and hard to evaluate given that they could improve even over a summer; some big-name older players who may leave; and very few obvious nailed-on XI starters, until Slot decides who he wants to build around, along with the players brought in this summer.

So, let’s have a look.

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