Liverpool are unable to sanction any big money moves unless they sell Mohamed Salah or the like to generate the funds necessary, a report from Bild explains.
While supporters want to see Klopp sign the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, the funds simply aren’t there after a year which has seen the club’s financials decimated by the pandemic.
These calls for a new world-class forward have come following a season that has seen Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino regress dramatically. Collectively, their attacking output has decreased by 44%.
Last season, they contributed to a combined 59 goals while they’ve only been involved 33 times this term. This is why it’s confusing to see that Mohamed Salah is constantly the one mentioned as a player that would be sold to generate funds.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 10: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring their team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Anfield on April 10, 2021 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Of course, there was the interview he conducted with Marca where he insinuated that he isn’t fully appreciated by Liverpool. He said: “We’ll see what happens but I prefer not to talk about that now.”
One thing should be certain: Salah is Liverpool’s best attacker and there’s no getting rid of him without suffering a decrease in attacking efficiency.
He’s scored 36% of his side’s Premier League goals this season and unless he was replaced with Mbappe or Haaland, Liverpool would struggle to attack with the same threat.
Mane and Firmino need to buck up and improve otherwise they’re at risk of being replaced by a player like Jadon Sancho, who Bild claims is valued at €100million (£86.8m) by Borussia Dortmund.
United chased him all of last year but Dortmund stood firm on their then valuation of €120m.
DORTMUND, GERMANY – OCTOBER 28: Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the UEFA Champions League Group F stage match between Borussia Dortmund and Zenit St. Petersburg at Signal Iduna Park on October 28, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Martin Meissner – Pool/Getty Images)
The English forward has scored 12 times this season and has created 16 goals. He’d likely have more goal contributions but he’s had a couple injuries as well as a COVID-19 infection but his talent remains unquestionable.
Sancho has played most of his games this season on the right but if Liverpool somehow signed him and kept Salah, he’d be deployed on the left where he would surely strike up a formidable partnership with Andy Robertson.
The 21-year-old is more of a creator than a goalscorer and this would help alleviate the creative burden that currently rests on Liverpool’s fullbacks, with Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold chiefly responsible for creating chances.
His dribbling and close control would also improve the Reds’ ability to probe sides that set up in a low block. When compared to the ruthless efficiency that Jurgen Klopp’s men operated with last season, playing against the smaller sides has been a major issue this term.
PADERBORN, GERMANY – MAY 31: Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund celebrates scoring his teams second goal of the game with a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ shirt during the Bundesliga match between SC Paderborn 07 and Borussia Dortmund at Benteler Arena on May 31, 2020 in Paderborn, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Reinforcing their attacking setup is a priority for Liverpool this season but it’s unclear yet who will arrive at Anfield. It is known, however, that Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri are likely to leave.
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