According to a curious article from ESPN’s Mark Ogden, Liverpool are willing to listen to offers for Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Without sounding annoying like Christian Falk, I’ll tell you what I know is true to the best of my knowledge.
The Reds are not as cash-strapped as it seems from the outside.
While the global pandemic has done the club no favours, Liverpool have not been done more harm than the likes of Manchester United, who are spending money left, right and centre.
Friday: Confirm the signing of Jadon Sancho.
Tuesday: Confirm a deal to sign Raphael Varane.Man United are on a roll! 😳 pic.twitter.com/gqDVsUWWRp
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) July 27, 2021
This is Liverpool’s business model. FSG operate the club under a model of sustainability. First of all, to avoid risk that could seem them land in the kind of debt they were in when the Americans bought the club.
Second of all, it’s how FSG operates all their sport ventures and while it would be fun to see the Reds mimic their rivals, they’re not going to do it just because football is different to baseball.
All this in mind, Liverpool are not looking to sell Naby Keita or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Not to raise funds, not because of their poor injury records.
INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA – JULY 29: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Naby Keita of Liverpool FC controls the ball during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Hertha BSC and FC Liverpool at Tivoli Stadion Tirol on July 29, 2021 in Innsbruck, Austria. (Photo by Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images/Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp just lost Georginio Wijnaldum for free to PSG and if he were to sell the duo, who cost the Reds a combined £92m, he would recoup a fraction of that value.
Not to mention his midfield sorely would be depleted.
In pre-season, Keita has been Liverpool’s best player and while many fans are restraining themselves from getting carried away as we have been down this road before, he looks very good.
If the Guinean can avoid injury, he may well be one of the standout players in the Premier League. He really is that talented and I highly doubt Klopp is planning on selling him off the back of his recent displays.
