Ex-Liverpool director explains transfer plan as Reds yet to make a signing
Ian Graham, former director of research at Liverpool, has given insight into the lack of transfer activity at the club.
Graham held the role for 11 years before leaving in June 2023 and was instrumental at Anfield as the Reds won every trophy on offer under Jurgen Klopp between 2018-2022.
As reported by the Liverpool ECHO [23 August], while promoting his new book, Graham gave insight into the data-driven approach to recruitment at Liverpool summarising the lack of activity this summer.
He said: “If you’re spending a large amount of money on a player then he has to start.
“The worst thing you can do is buy a squad player and spend money that could be out there on the pitch.”
Liverpool are waiting for the perfect player
If Liverpool fans needed any indication that the Reds will end the transfer window on 30 August without a signing, Graham has all but confirmed it.
An agreement is close with Valencia for goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili [Fabrizio Romano] still, considering he will not arrive on Merseyside until the 2025/26 season it will not affect the side this year.
CEO of football Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes are failing the club and Arne Slot if the squad is not improved by the end of the transfer window.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohammed Salah are also in the final year of their contract with no renewal in sight.
Martin Zubimendi has been the only subject of a concrete approach this summer [Liverpool ECHO], while he can’t be blamed for opting to stay at his boyhood club Real Sociedad, it still constitutes a massive failure on the club’s behalf. Hughes not only failed to sign Slot’s number-one target but gave up on signing a defensive midfielder entirely.
The supporters are well within their right to demand Premier League success this campaign, if the club feels the squad doesn’t need improving then surely it is good enough to win the title.
There are glaring issues in the squad that needed to be addressed months ago not in the final days of the window, it is outright incompetence from those who run the club no matter how much data exists to back up their decision-making.
Slot can only work with the players at his disposal, he backs his ability to improve the current Liverpool crop but all hopes of a title challenge this season will be written off if the window slams shut on 30 August with no improvements made to the side.
In other Liverpool news, Diogo Jota is ready to thrive as the main striker for the Reds this season.
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