The Liverpool Echo has reported that the club could move on eight players for as much as £80million which would help fund a marquee move for Jadon Sancho.
The Anfield outfit is heading into a summer of transition after a disappointing season that finished without silverware, with Jurgen Klopp just about managing to pull off a late finish inside the top four.
In fact, it’s a miracle that they finished in third after being outside the Champions League qualification spots with five games to go but having done so, the Merseysiders are once again an attractive destination for players on the move in the transfer market.
Jadon Sancho is one such player after he narrowly missed out on a move to Manchester United last summer.
DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 29: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund looks on during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Sport-Club Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park on February 29, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Max Maiwald/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath writes that Sancho is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer for a fee in the region of £75million which would require significant funds to be available for Jurgen Klopp to complete a move for the Englishman.
However, if the Liverpool Echo’s estimations are accurate, the German manager could sign Sancho by generating the necessary funds by selling eight unwanted players this summer for around £80million.
The players available for sale are: Marko Grujic (£15m), Xherdan Shaqiri (£15m), Divock Origi (£15m), Harry Wilson (£12m), Takumi Minamino (£10m), Taiwo Awoniyi (£8m), Loris Karius (£3m) and Ben Woodburn (£2m).
Replacing these players, all of whom are out of favour at Anfield, would generate enough to sign Sancho with an extra £5m leftover.
DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 29: Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund scores his sides first goal past Alexander Schwolow of Sport-Club Freiburg during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Sport-Club Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park on February 29, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)
I wish it was that simple but if Liverpool did manage to find enough change down the back of the sofa, their chances of success ahead of next season would absolutely skyrocket but they need to work quickly to get a deal done for Sancho.
While Dortmund are reportedly willing to sell him for £75m now, if he stars at the EUROs which he is expected to, there’s a chance that there asking price could go up and then the Reds would need a financial miracle.
The BVB attacker is exactly what Liverpool need after a season that saw a defensive injury crisis mask the true issue at hand: a lack of clinical finishing in front of goal.
The number of games that saw Klopp’s side start like a house on fire before being pegged back to end in a draw was so annoying.
The Reds drew 9 games this season and if those 9 (not counting the 9 defeats) had ended with a win, they would have ended the season as Premier League champions just one point ahead of the eventual winners Manchester City.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 07: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on February 07, 2021 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
In fact, Liverpool only conceded 10 goals more than Manchester City which is incredible given that they had the most injuries to centre-backs that I can recall a team ever having and this just highlights the issues at Anfield are higher up the pitch.
Sancho could help Jurgen Klopp fix his side’s inability to finish their dinner.
