Arne Slot made a promise and an explanation.
In the last press conferences of the Historical Season of Liverpool, where they became champion of England for the 20th time, the Dutchman told fans to expect a 'big summer' and then said that the Reds will not stand still, but look to find some 'new weapons'.
Two months, seven signing sessions and £ 295 million later, Slot not only welcomed a few weapons – but a whole new regiment armed with heavy artillery ready to shoot everything in their facial line. And they may not be ready yet.
This is the story of how Liverpool prepares to change 20 in 21 in the first time – and how they bully their rivals in submission.
Alexander Isak is the next target for a club that is not satisfied with what they have achieved in recent months, and whether the Sweden -striker of Newcastle arrives at Merseyside or not, the fact that Liverpool has even considered a movement, shows what their philosophy is.
It goes back to that old saying: repair the roof while the sun is shining, don't wait on a rainy day. The men from Slot are already the cream of the crop in the Premier League – and they only get better. Paris Saint-Germain, Champions of Europe, Watch out … Liverpool do you want crown.
“I don't think there is a better place to be than Liverpool,” said Captain Virgil van Dijk this week. “I really feel that way. We have had a fantastic season and I feel that this can only get better. When Florian Wirtz spoke with the club and spoke certain players, I also spoke a bit with him, I am sure he got a feeling for it. '
The head purchases have been Wirtz's statement for £ 116 million and £ 79 million on exciting young attacker Hugo Ekitike, who became higher than all except Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe on the club's internal data tests.
Then there is the full background department upgrading with Milos Kerkez, 21, and Jeremie Frimpong, 24. They see training in the Kai Takstadion with air conditioning this week to witness two players who are full of pace, power and technology.
But given that being a direct rival of the Premier League and notes his reputation with fans of the English game, ISAK's signing would surpass the party. Even if Newcastle would somewhat admit to their appreciation of £ 150 million, it would cost Liverpool's expenditure above £ 400 million before the summer.
And the only question on everyone's lips is – how can a club pay for it?
Well, to begin with, Liverpool is for these economical in the three transfer windows. After a major edition in the summer of 2023 with four new midfielders – Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo – they hardly lifted a finger with only £ 10 million Federico Chiesa that comes last summer.
“Last year we only signed one player and everyone moaned:” Oh, why didn't we sign anyone? ” But then we won the competition, “the record position Ian Rush of the club told Mail Sport yesterday. “I always said that it is easiest to win the competition, the hardest thing is to keep it.
'Every time we won the competition, we would buy at least two or three players to keep everyone sharp. Now we clearly need that. You must give the Fenway Sports Group (the owners) credit, they have given them the support with money. '
During a rolling period of three years, clubs can lose £ 105 million to meet the profit and sustainability rules and, to easily say it, Liverpool can afford to spend more because they make more.
They were £ 174.9 million for winning the Premier League in prize money and at least £ 83.8 million for their run to the last 16 in the new Look Champions League, with extra income from the competition day thanks to having five home games in the competition.
Those figures will be higher due to extras and commercial agreements are very popular with sponsors, shown by the amount of link-ups they did during the Tour. Part of that money will be compensated by paying bonuses in player contracts for winning the competition.
Next week they will reveal three new adidas kits and that kitdeal, from 1 August, the club will bank at least £ 60 million a year. Mail Sport has been told that figure is extremely conservative and it will be much more. New signs such as Wirtz and Co will model the new shirts and that sweater will certainly sell well.
By making the calculations about PSR on the basis of the latest accounts and estimates of income for this year, the club can afford to spend another £ 200 million and still comply with the rules of the Premier League. Even Isak would certainly not recommend a fee.
The sale of players will of course also happen, and Liverpool can still get another £ 100 million plus from the departure, because he has already won £ 66 million by selling Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher, Jarell Quansah and Nat Phillips.
Bayern Munich is ready to return to the table for Luis Diaz. Liverpool insists that the Colombian is not for sale, but a huge offer can test that position. Darwin Nunez is another one who can leave, even though he is impressive in the preseason and the Reds want £ 70 million for him, while Harvey Elliott has £ 40 million frees. Young people Tyler Morton and Ben Doak can also be sold.
That is the 'how' Liverpool can spend so much, what about the 'why'? Well, as CEO Billy Hogan said this week: 'We acknowledge, after we have won the English competition title for the 20th time, that this is one of the largest clubs in the world. We want to ensure that we behave like one. '
The last title defense of Liverpool was a damp Squib, quickly shortened by injuries to important players such as Van Dijk – and most of the rest of the defense – and finished 17 points behind Manchester City, who then won four titles in a row.
The summer transfer window after Liverpool won their first title in 30 years, was followed by £ 74 million, less than the total costs of Ekitike. Of the five players who entered, only Diogo Jota had a big impact – although Thiago Alcantara and Kostas Tsimikas also played their parts.
Now they definitely behave like a big club and bully their rivals. City tried and did not succeed in signing Wirtz. It is clear that Manchester United Recruitment Guru Christopher Vivell contacted Eintracht Frankfurt about Ekitike, but was told that he had put his heart on Liverpool. Newcastle was also ready to pay £ 70 million for the France under the 21s star, but he rejected them.
Rivals are afraid that the 10-point Gap Liverpool opened last season at the top of the Premier League, only getting bigger.