Three of Liverpool’s sales this summer have all been heavily criticised since joining their new clubs, did the Reds make the right decision after all?
The Reds let Sadio Mane, Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino leave this summer as they made space for the new signing of Darwin Nunez from Benfica.
Considering the total sum of their player sales in the transfer window, it’s fair to say Liverpool had conducted good business – given their total outgoings clocked in at £72M.
Despite just over a month and a few weeks into the new season, all three of Liverpool’s departing forwards have been labelled as struggling in their new environments since leaving Merseyside.
Nico Williams' imminent move to Nottingham Forest will take Liverpool’s overall incomings from player sales this summer to a potential £66.5m including add-ons.
Liverpool signed Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez from Benfica for initial £64m. Julian Ward 👏👏👏👏— Joseph Agbobli (@joseph_agbobli) July 7, 2022
Three poor starts?
Starting with Origi, the Belgian has struggled since moving to the reigning Italian champions AC Milan – with a report in the Daily Mail by Italian journalist Alvise Cagnazzo has labelled Origi as the ‘worst signing of the season” in Serie A.
“There is no doubt who the worst signing of the season has been in Serie A: Divock Origi,” the report read. “The Belgian left Liverpool hoping to finally nail down a starting spot at a top club, but his time at AC Milan has so far been a disaster.
“Rather than catching the eye, the striker’s first months in Italy have been plagued by bad luck and injuries, which limited his opportunities on Merseyside until his contract expired.
“At 27 years old, any player, especially a striker, should be at their peak. But Origi seems to already be on a downward curve in his career.
Bayern lost Lewandowski and are struggling in the Bundesliga.
Liverpool lost Mane and are struggling in the Premier League.
Lesson: Don't lose your Goals.
— Chuma Nnoli (@ChumaNnoli) September 17, 2022
For Minamino, he’s also been labelled as the ‘flop of the season’ in France, following his move to AS Monaco this summer. Quotidien Du Sport claimed, “Minamino seems too frail physically and struggling in the intensity of the duels, we understand why he did not win in the Premier League.”
It could be considered extremely harsh given that he scored and assisted at the weekend and is still getting used to his new side.
Lastly, we come to Mane and his start at Bayern Munich. The 30-year-old has had a lot of action so far under Julian Naglesmann managing five goals in 11 games, however, it was claimed by former Red Dietmar Hamann that “He is not integrated,” he told GMX via Sport Witness. “I saw him at Liverpool FC, where he played through the middle. That is not his position. Now he’s taking that position at FC Bayern as well. He is at his best when he comes from the outside. He doesn’t look happy to me.
