With the frenzy and excitement of the summer transfer window just about upon us fans want their respective clubs to start splashing their millions. Certain journalists and social media personalities are buzzing around Twitter with exclusives and reports that should all be taken with a pinch of salt. I myself only take pure and absolute confirmations as truth (sounds like a Michael Owen quote), whereby only investing my hope into the stories I like, whilst ignoring those I do not.
With that, I wanted to look at the valuations of all of our first team squad members, with a view as to whether they could be cashed in on this summer. I will state their current market value (as listed on transfermarkt), whilst adding my own valuation and any relevant notations.
Alisson Becker
Age – 30-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2027
Transfermarkt value – €45m
True value to LFC – €150m
Verdict – Indispensable to the club.
Caoimhin Kelleher
Age – 24-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2026
Transfermarkt value – €8m
True value to LFC – €25m (someone will pay)
Verdict – Too good and valuable to be an understudy, therefore, he should be moved in this summer, with Marcelo Pitaluga promoted to the first team squad.
Adrián
Age – 36-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2023
Transfermarkt value – €1m
True value to LFC – Contract about to end.
Verdict – If Ali wants him as his training ground companion and he is important to the goalkeeping group, then there is no issue with him staying. Despite this, a homegrown keeper should still be recruited, if Kelleher were to leave.
Joe Gomez
Age – 26-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2027
Transfermarkt value – €30m
True value to LFC – €30m
Verdict – I would keep and develop into that RCB role, behind Ibou. There are too many other things to get done this summer, whereas he can operate as a solid defensive right back if needed.
Calvin Ramsay
Age – 19-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2027
Transfermarkt value – €5m
True value to LFC – €5m
Verdict – Needs a loan, which may mean signing another right back.
Andy Robertson
Age – 29-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2026
Transfermarkt value – €48m
True value to LFC – €50m
Verdict – Should become a back-up LCB and the first option for LB, when we move sporadically into a back four for some games. The system (and new defensive recruit) may restrict his minutes substantially.
Kostas Tsimikas
Age – 27-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2025
Transfermarkt value – €18m
True value to LFC – €25m
Verdict – With two years left on his deal, now is the time to cash in and sign a specialist left sided defender / centre back.
Virgil van Dijk
Age – 31-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2025
Transfermarkt value – €45m
True value to LFC – €80m
Verdict – He remains pivotal to the team and vital within transition. The midfield needs to be reinforced, as we are currently asking far too much of the world’s best defender. Time to extend his deal.
Ibrahima Konaté
Age – 24-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2026
Transfermarkt value – €35m
True value to LFC – €120m
Verdict – The world’s best defender in waiting.
Joël Matip
Age – 31-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2024
Transfermarkt value – €16m
True value to LFC – €15m
Verdict – He should probably be moved on, with Sepp van den Berg promoted into the first team squad.
Nat Phillips
Age – 26-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2025
Transfermarkt value – €6m
True value to LFC – €8m
Verdict – He’s played less than 100 professional games, which is absurd given his age and the fact it’s not due to injuries. It’s time we parted ways.
Trent Alexander Arnold
Age – 24-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2025
Transfermarkt value – €65m
True value to LFC – €150m
Verdict – Indispensable to the club, time to extend his deal.
Fabinho
Age – 29-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2026
Transfermarkt value – €45
True value to LFC – €50m
Verdict – This next campaign should be his last, before we cash in. Fab can help integrate the next defensive midfielder, who should be arriving any time now…
Jordan Henderson
Age – 32-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2025
Transfermarkt value – €10m
True value to LFC – €10m
Verdict – He should be a backup player next season, whilst playing mostly in domestic cups and Europa group stage games. Massive regression, yet still sits on a massive contract.
Thiago Alcântara
Age – 32-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2024
Transfermarkt value – €18m
True value to LFC – €30m
Verdict – Vital we manage him properly and respect the genius he can offer. Time to extend his contract.
Stefan Bajčetić
Age – 18-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2027
Transfermarkt value – €13m
True value to LFC – €20m
Verdict – Needs time to immerse himself with the group as a sporadic squad member.
Curtis Jones
Age – 22-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2027
Transfermarkt value – €17m
True value to LFC – €35m
Verdict – Must now leap frog the captain in the rotation of midfielders, as a genuine frost team option. Needs power and control around him.
Harvey Elliott
Age – 20-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2027
Transfermarkt value – €35m
True value to LFC – €35m
Verdict – His style and physicality just don’t suit where we were or where want to be. If some is willing to overpay to get him, I would, before signing a proper winger that can operate on either flank.
Fábio Carvalho
Age – 20-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2027
Transfermarkt value – €20m
True value to LFC – €20m
Verdict – Much like Harvey, I would sell if a very handsome offer came in. Other than that, he needs to go out on loan in order to progress his game and value.
Cody Gakpo
Age – 24-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2028
Transfermarkt value – €60m
True value to LFC – €75m
Verdict – Looks the real deal and will offer all sorts of attacking versatility.
Diogo Jota
Age – 26-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2027
Transfermarkt value – €55m
True value to LFC – €70m
Verdict – If Newcastle or Chelsea want to pay over the odds, I would absolutely move on Diogo and look at other more flexible attacking options. His fee could get you Federico Chiesa, who only has two years remaining on his deal.
Mohamed Salah
Age – 30-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 000
Transfermarkt value – €70m
True value to LFC – €80m
Verdict – The system needs to be about getting this man into dangerous positions, as he is vital to everything we do.
Darwin Núñez
Age – 23-years-old
Contract Expiry – June 30th 2028
Transfermarkt value – €70m
True value to LFC – €80m
Verdict – We must use this summer to build an attack and system of play that Darwin can work within, as we need his power and goals.
With these opinions and information, it’s telling to me that we need the following six players.
Back-up keeper
Starting left sided defender (LCB / LB hybrid)
Starting defensive midfielder
Starting controlling midfielder
Starting box-to-box midfielder
Versatile wide forward option, R/L.
The four key additions are in midfield and defence, though if we were to sign two elite middle men (and a very good LCB), that would just about suffice. This is where the issue arose and led us to this predicament, in continually doing the bare minimum in the market. We must act like an elite footballing entity, or clubs will contribute to overtake us. One big summer and a realigned view going forward, could change all of that.
It’s over to you, Liverpool FC.
