As in previous years, Chelsea made a series of major reinforcements and Manchester United spent big money on players. Arsenal also added Mikel Merino and Raheem Sterling to their squad, while other Premier League clubs had an aggressive summer.Liverpool, on the other hand, had a quiet transfer market.
They acquired Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia, but he will remain in Spain for the season. The only real reinforcement was Italian international Federico Chiesa, while many young players moved on in search of playing time.
It has been a frustrating time for supporters, but for those involved in transfers, Liverpool deserves credit for their moves this summer, with peers praising the work rate of Richard Hughes, according to football correspondent, David Ornstein of The Athletic.
“Watching, listening and talking to people who are better versed in the situation than us and they’re very complimentary,”
“I speak to other clubs, directors, people that move in a similar world, sporting directors, technical directors and so far they’re taking their hat off to Richard Hughes.”
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Liverpool failed to land Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi after a battle of persuasion with Real Sociedad. However, they have executed a smart reinforcement by acquiring the long-term successor to Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker for a total transfer fee of £29 million.
As for the Italian winger, who had been out of the squad at Juventus, he was successfully brought into the team for around £12.5 million. Depending on how well he performs on English soil, he is very highly rated at the moment and his transfer fee, which would have been unthinkable a few years ago, came as a surprise.
As mentioned above, it is only future performances that will give this transfer play a real assessment, but we are very proud of the praise that has been heaped on Liverpool’s sporting director.