Liverpool still have time to assemble their team for the first half of the Premier League season with less than 24 hours left in the transfer window.
The fact that Jurgen Klopp dislikes the transfer window being open during the active season is no secret.
But one fairly important reason will undoubtedly temper any relief the Liverpool manager experiences as a result of the deadline this evening being extended past 11 p.m.
All Premier League clubs could do without the annoyance that the Saudi Pro League’s clubs’ transfer window will be open for an additional six days.
However, given the continuous rumors of Al-Ittihad’s interest in Mohamed Salah, Liverpool has specific reason for concern. The Reds have made it clear that the player is not for sale, and as of Thursday night, they had not yet received a formal offer for the Egyptian.
With such little time to find a successor, it appears that only the most outrageous sum for Salah – significantly more than the £118 million indicated earlier this week – will persuade Liverpool to even consider selling their most highly-valued player. Even if tonight’s deadline almost surely applies to any Salah move, expect that saga to continue until next week.
The Reds do, of course, have money to spend, as evidenced by their $111 million bid for Moises Caicedo. Wataru Endo’s acquisition cost £16.25 million, and a sizeable sum was placed aside in an effort to acquire Gravenberch. While Klopp has already hinted it took a significant stretch of Liverpool’s resources to put the Caicedo bid together, the salaries of both players, as well as any other new additions, must also be taken into account.
Otherwise, the majority of transfer transactions probably involve loan outgoings. Nat Phillips will play for Scottish Premiership winners Celtic for the first part of the season, and Academy midfielder Melkamu Frauendorf is drawing interest from many Bundesliga teams.
Championship side Hull City want Tyler Morton, who has recently returned to training after suffering a broken foot, giving Liverpool a decision over whether to keep the 20-year-old midfielder until January. The Reds have no plans to loan out Ben Doak, although Bobby Clark could join Derby on loan should Klopp approve the deal.
