Liverpool’s decision to pull back from the chase for Timo Werner has raised a few eyebrows, even among some of their own supporters.
Werner seemed perfect for Liverpool, and now seems set for Chelsea instead [BBC].
This has led to questions and debate over how much money, if any, Liverpool actually have to spend this summer.
Well, consider this, for a moment. Are Liverpool actually bluffing, and saving their funds for an even bigger and better deal?
Arsenal’s ruse?
Last summer Arsenal’s transfer activity was somewhere between a late panic and a masterplan.
For the first month of the transfer window the Gunners leaked that there was a minimal £40 million budget, Football London reported last June.
This was barely enough to sign one necessary player for a team at the time in dire need of an overhaul, defensively at least.
Then, wham, in July, Arsenal stunned everybody by paying £72 million for Nicolas Pepe.
Now many can question whether that was a wise move, but they took the gamble all the same, and appeared to have been playing the media all along, conducting their transfer business in secret, while more deals followed, for Kieran Tierney, William Saliba, and David Luiz.
Liverpool next?
Liverpool may genuinely be looking to save their cash and just invest in smaller, £20-25 million type deals in top prospects who can work their way into the team.
Or, Jurgen Klopp’s side decided not to splash £53 million on Timo Werner because they plan to drop closer to £100 million on Jadon Sancho or Kai Havertz.
If that is the plan, it does not make sense to go around broadcasting it in advance.
The transfer window is likely to now run until October, giving Liverpool plenty of time to deliberate their strategy. Examining how the game shapes up economically over the next two months, and how soon fans will be permitted to return to stadiums, could be key.
Just for now, nothing should be ruled out, and Liverpool could yet have one big move planned.
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