OPINION
Liverpool and their fans are clearly eager to make a statement signing this summer, but it isn’t the team’s quality that is in doubt, it is their depth.
It isn’t a lack of attacking talent Liverpool need to address, their front three of Mohammed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane notched up 91 goals between the three of them last season.
It was in the Champions League final when Liverpool’s key weakness were highlighted.
When Salah had to withdraw with a shoulder injury, Liverpool had to turn to Adam Lallana, who had made only 12 league appearances all season and it showed as he struggled to make an impact as The Reds went on to lose convincingly.
Lallana’s rustiness showed, and Liverpool’s startling lack of depth was made very apparent. If Manchester City or Manchester United had an injury to an attacking player, they could call on the likes of Gabriel Jesus or Anthony Martial.
Links to Marco Asensio for astronomical sums don’t really make sense, when Liverpool already have options of equal if not better quality in their side.
Budget signings like Xherdan Shaqiri who, according to the Stoke Sentinel has a release clause of £13.5 million – and is a quality player in his own right – would be more likely to accept a rotational role, to add much needed squad depth.
Liverpool can then spend their transfer kitty on more pressing issues like their goalkeeping problems -which was another big issue last season – and on bolstering their defence.