Liverpool’s Transfers: Rate The 2020 Summer Window

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Liverpool made a splash with Thiago Alcantara, got needed depth with Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas, but failed to get another center back. There’s also the issue of not having moved on one of Xherdan Shaqiri or Marko Grujic, leaving the team with one more senior international player than can be registered.

And with that, the 2020 summer international transfer window has officially slammed shut. It turned out to be a quiet day as far as Liverpool were concerned, with no incoming or outgoing transfers. Michael Edwards, Mike Gordon, and Jurgen Klopp are not the type to leave things until the panicked throes of deadline day.

Liverpool come into the window with no major holes to fill, but rather seemed focused on reinforcing the squad with depth. Michael Edwards handled the most glaring need first, depth at left back behind Andrew Robertson. After a deal for Jamal Lewis fell apart when Norwich decided to play hardball, the transfer committee swiftly pivoted to Kostas Tsimikas. The transfer for the Greek defender was wrapped up before anyone even had time to figure out the correct pronunciation of his name.

A month later, after a tedious slow speed chase, Thiago Alcantara entered the fold from Bayern Munich. This transfer signaled that FSG and Liverpool were not just looking for moneyball transfers. This was a statement of intent, bringing in one of the best midfielders in the world in the prime of his career at what was already a position of strength.

Liverpool fans barely had time to process the joy of finally signing Thiago before new broke that Diogo Jota from Wolves would be brought in as attacking reinforcements. The Portuguese player had eerily similar statistics to Sadio Mane in the years preceding his own move to Liverpool.

The only remaining need seemed to be bringing in a 4th center back to replace Dejan Lovren, and sorting the future of fringe players. Rhian Brewster moved to Sheffield United in a move that seemed to benefit all parties involved. Liverpool got a solid fee for a player who has yet to play a Premier League minute, as well as a sell on fee and a buy-back clause. Sheffield United got a player who should bang in some much needed goals for their anemic offense.

And that, dear reader, brings us to deadline day. After a rough outing against Aston Villa, there was a whiff of a rumor that Paulo Gazzaniga would be brought in for Adrian, but that was quickly quashed. Instead, it just seemed to be a waiting game to learn the final destination for at least one of Marko Grujic, Harry Wilson, or Xherdan Shaqiri. While there seemed to be plenty of interest, no one seemed willing to stump up the cash needed to make the permanent deal Liverpool wanted.

Instead, Liverpool are now left with 18 senior international players, and only 17 can be registered. That means Grujic will be sent on loan to a Championship side (there are still two weeks left to deal with the lower tiers in the UK), or he or Shaqiri will be relegated to hanging out with the yutes of the U23 side.

All in all, it seemed like another extremely strong window for Liverpool. The initial outlay for the Thiago and Diogo (the Go-Go’s?) was pretty tiny, which is ideal in this time of uncertain revenues. There is finally much needed depth at left back and wide forward, and Liverpool brought in a legitimate world class talent. Not getting a fourth center back is concerning, especially with the injury history of Joel Matip and Joe Gomez, but it appears Liverpool are ready to roll with a combination of Fabinho, Nathaniel Phillips, or one of the youth contingent.

On the outgoing side, Dejan Lovren and Rhian Brewster go a long way to offsetting the cost of the incoming players. Selling or two of the fringe players could have ended up seeing Liverpool breaking even, which is always exciting for the #netspend crowd, but Liverpool stuck to their valuations and instead have a bit of roster congestion.

My grade: A-

What is your grade for the transfer window?

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com