How Can Liverpool Make Best Use of the Significant Funds Available in the Summer?

Focusing on each position within the squad

Article written on 17th February, 2023

A few days ago, Jonathan Northcroft of The Times reported that Jürgen Klopp will receive significant financial backing from the owners to start rebuilding the squad in the coming summer. Whether Fenway Sports Group will offer the money from their side or get an investment from a minority investor, it remains to be seen. Let’s be honest, the further we stay away from this topic, the better.

Now, it is difficult to put a number on the term “significant funding”, but let’s just say Klopp has £250m cash from the owners plus whatever the club makes from potential player sales. Can the total figure reach the £300m mark? Possibly.

There are five players out of their contracts in the summer - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keïta, Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Adrian. Arthur Melo, who is on loan from Juventus, is not expected to stay beyond this season as well. 

Out of those six players, we might see either or both of Firmino and Milner staying. The former has been linked with Atletico Madrid of late. He may explore that opportunity. The latter may take a pay cut and stay for another year with a view of getting a coaching role after that. The other four are definitely leaving as it stands.

In terms of potential player sales, Joël Matip, whose contract runs out in 2024, is expected to be cashed in the summer. Caoimhin Kelleher could go too as he wants to play regular football (and he should, given how good he is). Nat Phillips has had near-misses of transfers in the recent past due to injuries to other centre-backs. He may leave once and for all in the summer.

Significant freeing up of the wages/funds

The table below shows the list of Liverpool players who could leave the club in the summer and their current wages. It is to look at how much wage the Reds can free up before buying new players.

Out of the nine players on the list, four are home-grown and five are foreign. 

If all the nine listed above leave in the summer, there is a significant chunk of total wage expenditure freed up. Even if we assume that Firmino and Milner stay on their current wages, we still would free up to more than £550,000 of wages per week.