Michael Edwards has pulled off masterstrokes for Liverpool before.
Remember during the 2017-18 campaign, when he brought Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool within six months of each other?
And again in 2019, when the Reds’ director of football sold Dominic Solanke to an unwitting Bournemouth for £19 million, having barely kicked a ball in the Premier League under Jurgen Klopp prior to that.
Regardless of whether we’re talking signings or departures, Edwards has invariably ensured that the Anfield outfit profit either in football or financial terms – very often both.
However, even by his own sky-high standards, his next bargain could be his most impressive yet.
Bargain of the year
According to Tuttomercatoweb, Liverpool could sign Paulo Dybala on a pre-contract agreement within weeks.
The Argentina international is looking increasingly likely to leave Juventus on a Bosman this coming summer and given that he’s allowed to negotiate with foreign clubs, he will be inundated with offers.
Dybala’s stock has fallen in recent years.
Sixteen goals in his last 18 months at Juventus illustrates that for whatever reason, Dybala has lost his mojo.
However, we’re talking about a player in the prime of his career, one who doesn’t turn 29 until November and given Jurgen Klopp’s man-management skills, it’s entirely possible that the Liverpool manager could help him get his groove back.
Say what you want about his paltry goal return over the past couple of seasons, but this is a man who made Barcelona lodge a £133 million offer four and a half years ago, only for the Italians to turn it down.
The calendar year is only 27 days old but, if Liverpool sign Dybala to a pre-contract agreement and secure his arrival this summer, the Merseysiders will be the envy of Europe.
And that’s because it’d be immediately obvious that no other club will pull of a bigger bargain than this in 2022.
Edwards is leaving Liverpool this summer, but this would be a ridiculous way to close this chapter of his career.
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