Top quality transfers the order of the day as the future is now

I guess we all have that uneasy feeling.   That feeling where are expectations levels have been heightened after finishing such a close second, only to be dampened with our transfer activity grinding to a holt since the pre-World Cup transfers of Rickie Lambert and Emre Can. Nervousness is abound.

Brendan Rogers is making all the right noises. 

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo he said, “What we do need to do to ensure we kick on? We need to ensure we continue with our thinking in terms of the types of players we're going to bring in.”

 

“We want to bring players in who are hungry. They must have the ambition to want to come in and succeed here.

 

“We need players who there can be no doubts about their quality.

 

“We're in a position now where we're going straight into the group stage of the Champions League and we’re going into the Premier League next season with an expectation and a belief that we can win the league.

 

“We need players that have those qualities. That belief, players who are willing to improve and who are hungry to improve themselves.

 

“If we can get a number of signings with that profile then we can go on and build on last season.”
 

We all know player’s prices ramp up exponentially after a decent World Cup, but inflationary prices or not we need to bring in more top quality to Anfield.  We are in the perfect position to judge the type of quality needed having just missed out on the Premiership.

Rogers has to get it right in this transfer window

Keeping Suarez is a must.  Undoubtedly the foremost striker in world football, adding a top quality midfield general, a  left-back, centre-half and a winger would certainly give us that strength in depth required.   I believe Liverpool should’ve made a statement by buying in a top class player before the World Cup.

Suddenly, we are under pressure with Barcelona and Real Madrid allegedly hovering over our marquee player.   Once again we are having to listen to the usual summer diatribe that the Uruguayan wants to and is instigating a move the Spanish giants.  

 

As tiresome as this is we cannot afford to let him go (unless it is for a near world record fee) having come so close to winning the Premiership.   I believe it is more important that we show our intentions in the transfer market, by bringing in the talent we need and working as close to the limit of the Financial Fair Play boundaries as possible without putting the club in danger.

If we do keep Suarez, this is almost certainly the last season he’ll stay without winning the Premiership or the Champions League and in fact we could lose him even if we do win the Premiership or the 'Cup with the Big Ears'.

If we’ve learned anything from the last pre-season window it’s that to make the required leap you need players who can hit the ground running.  In hindsight, the relatively large sums spent on Aspas and Alberto who were brought in as first team squad members cost Rodgers in the long run, especially Aspas.

When the chips were down and Liverpool reaching the season’s nadir, Alberto (£6 million) was considered not ready; Aspas (£9 million) was considered not good enough and Illori (£8 million) was sent on sent out on loan to Gatafe.    All three play in areas where we required support.

We finally have enough young talent coming through after a decade and yes we must look to the future, but right now we need to think in the present because it will be a catastrophe should we finish outside the top four and as such we have to consolidate and move forward in the same season.