Probably give our transfer window a 6/10.....
I really don't know how to grade out this window.
On the one hand, they've improved the quality of the depth and bagged 2 of their three main targets. (If Keita a year down the line counts? Or is that to be graded on next summers window?). On the other, the one position they needed to add above all else they've come away empty handed after maddingly f-ing themselves over early in the summer.
Made up with the signings we've actually made. Salah is arguably the most exciting signing of the entire English window for a bargain price. (Which was at the time a club record. Put's a lot into perspective as regards Liverpool in the transfer market the PL era until this summer.). FINALLY, we have a natural LB outside of the continued brain-dead clown that is Alby. Solanke looks an absolute gem of a prospect who's done that well he's forced Origi out on loan already. And Oxo-Chambo (still working on a name) adds great versatility and quality depth that upgrades the squad again.
But that's tempered with the last day frustration. Lemar I don't blame them for at all. They had £75 million for Pete's sake on the table for a lad who had asked to be allowed to come. But when it get's to £92 million for a still developing, relatively inexperienced 20-year-old, it's time to walk away. van Dijk is what leaves the window feeling like a loss. You can only presume the serious threat of a transfer ban was too much for them to bid without Southampton's blessing after the way they bungled it early summer. It was a massive, calculated gamble knowing right through he only wanted to go to them that back-fired down to Southampton standing firm and making their own point.
Talking of, as much as I personally wanted rid of the little sh*t, fair play to FSG for completely standing firm on Coutinho. Like Southampton, they had to be seen to sticking to their guns to once and for all hammer home we are no longer a selling club and won't be bullied by anyone. And the plus side of all that, when Phil is over his little strop, you still have a World class footballer for the year to utilise.
That's been the one major win for me this window. The complete shift in policy from the owners to back the manager as much as they can within reason. They just happened to pick a couple of stubborn clubs to try do their main dealings with. People can criticise them all they like for ultimately falling short the final day. But they've been willing to drop £70 plus million on van Dijk. Similar on Lemar. They were pushing that for Keita. (Who they ultimately got a lot cheaper in an absolutely superb deal. Albeit a year down the line but still.). Even Mbappe they had serious interest in if he'd decided to come to England and would have been rivalling any English club on that score. All without having to sell to fund that spree. They can't be held accountable for clubs just refusing to take their money no matter how high they went. Or for a manager wanting only top bracket targets and not demeaning any alternatives better than what he already has. All in all, with that very noticeable shift in policy, a very good and pleasing window from the owners. Just, again, doesn't seem it with the failure on van Dijk through our own stupidness.
3rd highest net spend save for clarification of late deals too league wide which needs taking into consideration. Most of our rivals have had much worse windows and nearly all have found it real difficult to spend and get their targets.
On the outgoing side, praise the Lord we've finally got rid of that crettin Sakho. Pity it wasn't the £30 million we wanted but it's still an £8 million profit for complete dead wood nowhere near the squad for the last season and more so can't argue at that. Good bye and good riddance. Getting back what we paid for Lucas after 10 years stellar service was another very good piece of business. Pity we couldn't move Ladzar, Flanno and Bogdan but we're almost clear of the sh*te now just two summer windows in for Klopp which is a brilliant achievement.
Think overall I'll give them a B-. Relatively dead happy with the window but the van Dijk miss has just brought me right down.
