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Liverpool have become the powerhouse of the transfer market in recent seasons, and most of the credit has been given to one man. Jürgen Klopp is often the center of attention for his managerial duties as well as bringing star talent to Anfield. But behind the scenes, sports director Michael Edwards is working his magic.
Since his arrival nearly four years ago, Edwards’ businesses have helped catapult Liverpool to the top of European football on the field. Even in the boardroom, the Reds’ swift transfer business is often the envy of other Premier League clubs, especially compared to their old foes at M62.
Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker – A delightful list of transformative talents to walk through Melwood’s doors shows just how crafty negotiator Edwards is to deal with. And that’s not to mention newcomers Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota.
While revenue has certainly benefited the Reds in recent years, it is the players Liverpool have been able to advance that have helped fund the newcomers. When a rival club calls a player they love, Edwards makes sure they get the best possible deal and a rate that reflects the quality of the person they are letting go. Dominic Solanke, Mamadou Sakho, and Danny Ward, to name a few.
Rival clubs know that when dealing with Liverpool, whether for a new player or for letting him go, they face a difficult task in getting the smart ending to the deal. Edwards has made negotiating with the Reds a challenging proposition, but is that reputation starting to cause problems?
Cubs across Europe are often burdened by players everyone knows very well that they are unlikely to make the first team. Liverpool has arguably some of those, and has been able to find suitors and come to terms in the past. Now, however, there still seems to be a lot of fringe players at Anfield who have yet to find new homes.
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People like Marko Grujić and Harry Wilson were expected to leave Liverpool with permanent arrangements, even with some calls for Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi to leave. Yet here we are, less than a week from the deadline, and they’re still at the club.
In the case of Origi and Shaqiri, both have been part of Klopp’s plans for the past two years, but Grujić and Wilson have been loaned time and time again. Signs that your long-term futures are far from Anfield. Why then, when all signs point to exits, are they still with the Reds? Aside from a participation in a Carabao Cup tie, neither of them are involved in the Premier League, and it remains to be seen if there are chances of participating in the Champions League.
Could this be a sign that Edwards’ tough negotiation is working against him? Clubs will know that when trying to come to terms with the Reds, history shows that Liverpool often end up smiling, while others regret parting large sums of money for inferior players. And in the case of buying new players, Liverpool’s keen eye for relatively cheap talent may mean prices go up a bit more if they come to call.
Its the price of success. When you’re at the top, other clubs will want to take advantage of that. With Grujic and Wilson, potential suitors may be wary of Liverpool’s asking price and not prepared to take financial risks for a player who may or may not perform. In these difficult times, that reasoning can be forgiven.
However, as the deadline approaches, clubs tend to despair more and more, both over expenses and income. Edwards knows how to work the market to get the best deal for Liverpool. If acceptable offers don’t come in for the fringe players, then you’re prepared to walk away or use your skills to sway the deal in your favor.
Liverpool are feared on the pitch for their soccer prowess, but signs indicate that clubs are becoming wary of dealing with them backstage as well. The cost of success has its ups and downs, it seems.
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