Liverpool have always had a knack of selling players for excellent returns.
Remember Philippe Coutinho’s £142 million switch to Barcelona? The transfer which pretty much freed up the funds for Jurgen Klopp to build a Premier League and Champions League-challenging force?
The colossal fees brought in for Christian Benteke, Dominic Solanke, Jordon Ibe, Neco Williams, Andy Carroll, Takumi Minamino and more.
It’s a knack Liverpool – for all the criticism that has come their way during a quiet summer at Anfield – appear to have retained.
The Merseyside giants have reportedly brought in over £50 million via the sales of Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho to Brentford. The former never made a single Premier League appearance for Liverpool – instead boosting his reputation during a loan at Mainz in the Bundesliga – while the latter fell out of favour before ending the campaign with Hull City.
A pretty remarkable windfall, all things considering.
Liverpool sell Fabio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg
The Brentford new boys were both handed their first starts during Wednesday’s 1-0 Carabao Cup second-round win at Colchester United.
And, after a sluggish start, manager Thomas Frank was delighted with the way the former Liverpool team-mates imposed themselves on proceedings as The Bees set up a third-round clash with London neighbours Leyton Orient.
“I thought Fabio got better and better throughout the game,” Frank tells the Shropshire Star. “He got more and more on the ball and started creating. Pleased with his full debut.
“Sepp, also like the rest of the team, for the first 10 minutes had to adjust a bit. But, after that, he stepped up and then he ended at right-back in the last 20 minutes.
“I liked what I saw as well.”
Brentford could be in for a nervy end to the window.
Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa could leave Brentford
HITC understands that big bids have been received from Nottingham Forest and Al-Hilal for attacking duo Yoane Wissa and Ivan Toney.
Nottingham Forest have offered £25 million for the former – shifting their focus to West London after hitting the wall in pursuit of Santiago Gimenez and Eddie Nketiah – while the latter is keen on a switch to Saudi Arabia.
HITC have been told that Al-Hilal are offering £35 million. Brentford want closer to £50 million, however, despite the fact Toney is due to become a free agent next summer.
Frank would not be drawn on the seemingly-endless speculation surrounding his England international, however.
“Similar stand to yesterday. I am not speaking about Ivan,” Frank said.
“I want to speak about the 21 lads in the dressing room who did well to get through to the next round of the Carabao Cup against a Colchester team who deserve a lot of praise and made it difficult for us.”
After selling Sepp van den Berg and Carvalho, Liverpool also agreed a £10 million deal to send Bobby Clark to Red Bull Salzburg.
Teenage midfielder Clark, who made 12 first-team appearances under Jurgen Klopp last term, reunites with former Reds coaches Pep Lijnders, Vitor Matos and Andreas Kornmayer at the Austrian Bundesliga giants.
HITC understands that Stefan Bajcetic could now join Clark at Salzburg on a loan deal. Barcelona have enquired too, but Liverpool want to ensure the 19-year-old joins a club capable of offering him regular first-team football.
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