Liverpool fans are upset that Leny Yoro left the team for Manchester United, but FSG has experienced this before.
When Michael Edwards was lured back into the fold by Fenway Sports Group earlier this year, Liverpool fans were ecstatic. Upon becoming the first chief executive of football to join the Boston-based firm, Fenway accomplished a remarkable feat by negotiating the return of one of the individuals who spearheaded the Reds’ comeback as a national and international powerhouse to lead the team’s future.
Furthermore, fans were happy that their team was in the capable hands of a guy who was frequently praised as a genius when it came to transfer negotiations when Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool after nine years. Edwards was so highly esteemed that a prominent football administrator from a Premier League opponent is rumored to have knelt before him in appreciation at his talents.
Richard Hughes was appointed sporting director of Liverpool as Edwards’ first move. Hughes, who is obviously from the Edwards school of sports directing and focuses on maximizing value for the club in terms of both incomings and outgoings, and the two have a close relationship.
Furthermore, it is evident that Liverpool will not rush or panic when it comes to transfers; the team will never permit itself to become engrossed in the significant hubbub that surrounds the summer window. Because of this, it’s extremely unexpected that, despite the enthusiasm around Edwards’ return to the team, there still appears to be mistrust in the Liverpool method of operation.
Leny Yoro, a defender for Lille, had been on Liverpool’s wishlist, with club insiders calling him a “generational talent,” but the Reds had acted under the impression he was headed for Real Madrid. Now, however, it looks as though Yoro is closing in on a move to Liverpool’s bitterest rivals, which has been a hard pill to swallow for supporters eager to see additions to Arne Slot’s squad, especially in a department where the team is obviously lacking reliable bodies.
Liverpool, however, has prior experience here. Numerous times. Just one look at Manchester United’s roster demonstrates why the team is frequently proven correct in their measured and cautious approach to the transfer market. Prior to their arrival at Old Trafford, Mason Mount and Jaden Sancho were two players who were frequently linked to moves to Anfield.
Early in the summer of last year, Mount was a goal for the Reds. However, when Chelsea demanded a cost of approximately £60 million, the Reds quietly withdrew from the race and shifted their attention to other targets.
While United attempted to play hardball and saw three bids for Mount rejected before ultimately agreeing to Chelsea’s asking price, Dominic Szoboszlai was eventually recruited. It is obvious why Liverpool was not interested in the auction when you consider that a contract worth an estimated £300,000 per week was also agreed upon, which is nearly three times what he made at Chelsea.
When Sancho was one of Dortmund’s most sought-after players in the Bundesliga, hitting 50 goals in 137 games, Klopp was an outspoken admirer of the youngster. Being seen as one of Europe’s top young talents, it was hardly surprising that Liverpool was frequently mentioned in relation to him.
But after more than a year of talks, the Reds weren’t about to engage into a bidding process that would see United spend £73 million to sign Sancho. Six months later, they would instead sign Luis Diaz for £50 million.
Both players have underperformed at United and are cautionary tales about the perils of making hasty transfer market commitments and failing to be flexible with your ambitions.
The biggest example of a deal Liverpool backed out of, though, may have been in the summer of 2020, when they were considering a move for Timo Werner, a striker for RB Leipzig, after winning the Premier League. The German striker was one of the most sought-after in Europe, having recently finished an incredible season in the Bundesliga with 34 goals.
Liverpool was rumored to be leading the race for Werner, but there was hesitation to complete the move early in the transfer season because COVID’s effects on finances had not yet been fully realized and a £47.5 million release clause needed to be fulfilled in full. At Chelsea, there were no such feelings, and the Londoners worked fast to seal a deal.
The striker’s high profile at the Reds gave the impression that they had missed out on their primary objective, and their fans reacted angrily. They questioned how FSG could support Klopp after he had just won the team’s first league title in thirty years.
It was a fair inquiry, but Liverpool’s real intentions were still unknown and the transfer window was still open.
In fact, a few months later, Liverpool startled supporters by agreeing to pay £41 million to sign Diogo Jota from Wolves, breaking their customary transfer policy to get one of Europe’s most sought-after players, Thiago Alcantara. And the latter transaction exemplifies Edwards’s astute approach to the transfer market throughout his career.
Senior members of Liverpool’s recruitment team have long liked Jota and saw him as the ideal rival for Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, and Roberto Firmino. Liverpool always had him on their list. And while Jota hasn’t been immune to injuries, he has established himself as a regular goal scorer and Anfield fan favorite, while Werner failed to live up to expectations with Chelsea.
Additionally, he provides evidence that supporters ought to see the transfer window in its full.
The window is not a sprint but a marathon, and those who “win” it are frequently the ones who lose the most. Yoro may therefore soon be announced as a United player, but it’s important to keep in mind Liverpool’s history and have confidence that the team is in excellent hands with Edwards and company.
