Jude Bellingham who only wanted to move to Madrid? That Jude Bellingham?
I think the previou issue was Zubimendi, but as he's staying now you'd assume it would be straight forward
You're completely missing the point Adam. It's not about being paupers, it's a case that Liverpool have a very clear, long standing strategy that they won't spend big unless they're convinced that the player is right. Yes, it will result in them at times missing out on players because they're too cautious but it also minimises the chance of signing duds and this is a massive issue for the biggest sides. When Liverpool or Utd buy poorly, they're more often than not stuck with those players for years because they pay some of the biggest wages around and nobody that will want those players can afford to pay them. You only have to look at Utd's struggles to shift numerous players over the years to see this. Utd have just sold AWB and according to the Athletic, they had to pay him a significant sum to persuade him to leave. Clubs don't want to be doing this not just because it makes things more expensive but it also makes improving the side harder.
For some reason I didn't put those players at the same club.
They were already part of the discussion in the posts I was replying to.
Nobody is making out like they're paupers, you just seem to be struggling with the concept of a club that deliberately won't spend money on alternatives if the players it wants to buy are not available. They're not languishing in mid table mediocrity crying out for upgrades in every position and getting no backing.
Let's not forget there's a few weeks of transfer window left yet, but even so, if they're happy with the squad and the improvements they want aren't available, it's entirely sensible (especially so in the age of FFP, PSR etc.) to not spend money on players you don't actually need or want just for the sake of making some signings. Their squad actually looks pretty strong as it is, there's not many positions screaming out for upgrades lest the season be a total failure. It sounds like they wanted Zubimendi as an upgrade in the defensive midfield area but if he's not available, there's no point spending money on a 'Plan B' because they already have Endo and Bajcetic (and others? not sure how many other of the CMs they have could reasonably be expected to cover a CDM role) who are good players - a Plan B would just be adding another player of similar calibre - pointless, they already have that.
Salah and VVD I think both have expiring contracts at the end of this season, we'll get a better idea of Liverpool's plans for them if we see contract renewals during the year or not. Assuming they need to replace them next summer and might not get transfer income, they'll have a better footing to do it from in terms of PSR if they haven't been wasting money on players they don't actually need or want right now in this transfer window.
Managed to basically get in Macca, Szob, Gravenberch and Endo for similar money so it wasn't exactly terrible...
Genuine question, given Klopps seeming fondness for bringing through the younger players and breaking them into the team, do you think that the likes of Clark etc would be sold had Klopp still been here or do you think more of the younger players might have seen a route into the squad ? I guess seeing some of the kids that we saw debut under Klopp now leaving does sort of make me realise all the more (perhaps a bit bizarrely) that Klopp is no longer here. Youngsters that I sort of associate with Klopp now in my head.
If you think back to Klopp's first season, he gave a lot of academy players a chance then too and within 6-18 months most of them got sold too. I think we all fall into the trap of seeing a young player get a chance and probably exaggerate how well they've done because they're an academy player and forget just how difficult it is to reach the standard required to play for Liverpool.
