Liverpool FC comment - transfer committee fears unnecessary as Klopp and Reds show normal progress
Normal.
Itās a word which has been associated with JĆ¼rgen Klopp since he emerged at Anfield last October in a haze of flashing camera bulbs to declare he was simply āThe Normal Oneā.
Of course much of what he has already brought to the club suggests much, much more than normal.
The season may have ended with the huge disappointment of a second lost cup final - even more so when that concentration on the Europa League contributed to an underwhelming eighth-place league finish - but there was more than enough progress to suggest a āKlopp teamā at Anfield could achieve great things.
Klopp was forgiven many of Liverpoolās failings last year because of the mantra that they werenāt his players and it wasnāt his team.
There was confidence that the German would deliver in the transfer market just as he created a Borussia Dortmund team which was not only successful but admired across Europe.
But some, it seems, are already getting restless.
When the ECHO reported this morning that Liverpool had failed with a Ā£7m bid for Leicester full back Ben Chilwell it was enough to launch a furious reaction on social media.
The Anfield transfer committee is back in the spotlight among some supporters in the most significant way since Brendan Rodgers was still flashing smiles on the Melwood training pitches.
The problem seems to be the level of player which Liverpool are being linked with.
It was certainly not helped by the timing of midfield target Piotr Zielinskiās emergence from the Polish bench at the Euros on Tuesday night to deliver a thoroughly underwhelming performance, mercifully cut short by his manager after 45 minutes.
Chilwell was reserve left-back at champions Leicester last year behind Christian Fuchs but has yet to make his Premier League debut and spent two months on loan at Huddersfield.
The problem with the other player heavily linked with Liverpool - Sadio Mane - seems to be primarily that he is another player from Southampton, a club the Reds have paid substantial sums to over the last few years.
These are not the types of names many fans were hoping to hear, itās fair to say. And even though the transfer window has not yet even formally opened, some are getting restless.
Fans are entitled to that of course but to return to our theme, isnāt the current situation simply absolutely normal?
All three names mentioned above potentially fill a need for the club.
Chilwell, a young player in what has been a problem position for the club. Zielinski a possible addition to a midfield which needs more power. Mane would bring lighting pace, much-needed width and a greater goal threat than one of those Southampton old boys in Adam Lallana, for all his impresssive form at the Euros. And while weāre at it, those other St Maryās old boys in Nathaniel Clyne (since he arrived) and (latterly) Dejan Lovren arenāt doing too badly.
And it is just June 22. The ECHO looked at the timing of arrivals under FSG earlier this month and there was a real spread.
It was in this week last year that Roberto Firmino arrived, as did Clyne, Christian Bentekeās Ā£32.5m switch from Aston Villa came in mid-August while Mamadou Sakhoās signature in 2013 was secured on the last day of the summer window.
Many came earlier of course but itās worth remembering that Joel Matip from Schalke and Marko Grujic from Red Star Belgrade are already on their way. And itās likely that much business has been delayed across the continent because of the ongoing European Championships.
At the end of last season Klopp also suggested he would likely need a smaller squad if Liverpool missed out on European football altogether, with the Reds likely to play at least 15 fewer games than last seasonās exhauting 63.
The fans are surely entitled to at least one absolute āstarā name out of owners FSG this summer - despite Kloppās reputation for making rather than buying them - but this early is surely too early to be worrying about the transfer committee yet again.
Especially a transfer committee which Klopp appears completely relaxed about.
From his first day he was clear he would always have the final say and weāve had several months to learn the German is generally a man to speak his mind.
He told his first press conference: āThis is a really crazy discussion because it was not a problem for (even) 10 seconds...
āIām not a genius, I donāt know more than the rest of the world. I need these people.ā
And he reinterated his view in the last window in January.
āIn the end itās like I said at the first meeting and the first press conference, if I donāt want the player to come in here in he will not come.
āAnd if the player I want doesnāt fit our budget then he will not come too.
āThatās absolutely normal. Itās a normal situation.ā
For now, with Klopp flying out on a family holiday today, surely we can let normality reign?
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-comment-transfer-committee-11512031