After an eventful window for Liverpool and manager Jurgen Klopp, we take a closer look at each of the club’s new signings.
With the summer transfer window having drawn to an ever-dramatic close last night, the time of last-minute deals, over-inflated fees, and over-talkative footballing agents has finally come to an end.
After an eventful window for Liverpool and popular German manager Jurgen Klopp, we take a look at all of their summer signings, and assess just how good a piece of business each deal might prove to be.
Sadio Mane – £30,000,000 – Grade A
Liverpool’s most expensive summer acquisition, and one that has certainly got a lot of Liverpool fans very excited indeed; Sadio Mane’s move from Southampton to Liverpool stands as one of the biggest domestic deals of the window thus far.
One of the stand out performers of last season’s Premier League campaign, Mane enjoyed a superb season playing for the Saints, ending the season with 11 Premier League goals, and a further six assists to his name.
An energetic and lightning fast attacking player – capable of playing the whole way across the front line – Mane is an ideal fit for Klopp’s high-intensity, high-pressing game, and appears the perfect man to get the best out of attacking teammates Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho.
At only 24 years of age, Mane should also be heading into his absolute prime as an attacking player over the following few seasons, meaning that Liverpool have not only managed to secure one of the League’s most coveted and leading talents, but also a player who could still have a number of years at the top level ahead of him.
Seemingly tailor made for Liverpool’s style of player, and undoubtedly possessing both ability and potential in abundance. Mane’s move to Liverpool looks like a very smart piece of business indeed.
Georginio Wijnaldum – £23,000,000 – Grade B
Another big-money move from another former big Premier League rival; After Newcastle’s relegation to the Championship it was Liverpool who managed to win the race to secure Georginio Wijnaldum’s signature.
Having only joined Newcastle at the start of last season, Wijnaldum enjoyed a very impressive debut campaign in English football, scoring a remarkable 11 goals from midfield, as well as directly assisting a further five goals.
A versatile midfield player – capable of playing out wide on the right, but more at home in a central role – Wijnaldum again possesses the stamina and speed that will enable him to instantly fit into Klopp’s demanding style of play.
Also more than capable of grabbing a goal from midfield – as evidenced by his record last season – and still only 25 years of age, Wijnaldum looks like a solid fit for Liverpool yet again, and someone who should be entering into their absolute peak over the coming years.
The Dutchman has been criticised in the past for struggling to influence games when playing away from home, but with the increase in talent around him now that he has switched from Newcastle to Liverpool, Wijnaldum should have no problem in breaking his away-goal curse for Liverpool – and in becoming a solid payer for them for years to come.
Joel Matip – Free transfer – Grade B+
A player with whom Klopp will already be very familiar with – owing to his time spent coaching Borussia Dortmund and Mainz – Joel Matip joined Liverpool on a free transfer after having been released by former club Schalke.
Standing a full five inches over six feet, and possessing impressive pace for a player of his size and build, Matip represents a solid, versatile central defender, and someone who will be more than capable of dealing with the physicality of the Premier League.
Extremely experienced for a player of only 25 – having made over 250 senior appearances for his former club – Matip will surely slot straight into Liverpool’s starting line-up, replacing the all too often criticised Mamadou Sakho.
Whilst still far from being the finished article, and someone who may have to quickly adjust to the difference in style of play between Germany and England, signing Matip on a completely free transfer again looks like a very shrewd piece of business by Klopp.
Loris Karius – £4,700,000 – Grade C+
Another player with whom Klopp will already be very familiar, Loris Karius joined Liverpool in a £4.7 million move from Klopp’s former club Mainz.
Having come through the German club’s academy, and slowly established himself as the club’s first choice keeper, Karius particularly impressed for Mainz last season – appearing in all 34 of the club’s league appearances.
At only 23 years of age, Karius has already been touted as Liverpool’s potential long-term goalkeeper, with current Liverpool ‘keeper Simon Mignolet widely perceived to be below Klopp’s desired level of ability.
Despite having broken his hand in pre-season – resulting in Karius missing the start of the Premier League season – this deal is more likely to be judged off the German’s long term success at the Premier League giants, not by his immediate form.
For only a little under £5 million however, the ‘keeper appears a solid signing, and with doubts over Mignolet’s ability still refusing to go away, the deal certainly appears to have been a risk worth taking both for Klopp and for Liverpool.
Ragnar Klavan – £4,200,000 – Grade C
Yet another player from Klopp’s old Bundesliga hunting ground, and yet another central defender brought in to shore up Liverpool’s leaky defence; at 30 years of age, Ragnar Klavan surely only represents a short term solution at best.
Joining Liverpool from FC Augsburg – where he made 140 appearances in his four years at the club – Klavan was a key part of the side that finished fifth in the 2014/2015 Bundesliga season, securing Europa League football for the following season.
A solid and experienced central defender, who will already be familiar with Klopp’s pressing tactics and managerial style, Klavan looks a solid signing, but many fans will already be hoping that he represents nothing more than a stop-gap – with Liverpool aiming to bring in a top-class centre back in one of the next two windows.
Alex Manninger – Free transfer – Grade E
A 39-year-old veteran ‘keeper, brought in on a short time deal at the Merseyside club. Manninger trained with Liverpool in June and July of this year, before signing his short-term deal shortly afterwards.
Surely only a deal that provides cover to both Karius and Mignolet, and a deal that most likely won’t even see the player ever make an appearance for the club.
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