Sure we probably won't offload another Coutinho type transfer but it's not needed at this point.
Isn't it?
We need a centre back. We need a centre mid. That's just to cover holes in the squad. That's probably £70m right there for 2 squad players. Half a Coutinho.
That's even before we get to needing to rejuvenate a squad that is a year older and at least one of the forward players seem to be bearing all the signs of some sort of post-covid physical deterioration beyond the natural ageing process.
And that's also before the necessity to move some squad players on that are almost permanently injured so taking up squad places that we need to be going to fit players e.g. Naby Keita, Joel Matip. Add on another say £70m brings us to £140m even before thinking about rejuvenating the front line. That's a full Coutinho right there.
Where are we getting £140m from without selling at least one, possibly two of "the front three"?
Keita has to go this summer, no question. Book value £20m. Real value about £5m, if we can find anyone to take him off our hands (doubt it). At best we might be able to shift him out on loan on some pay-as-you-play deal to a club who still believe he exists.
Ox has to go too. Book value about £15m. Let's say we could actually get that. But there's no jungle drums about him going. Assume not.
Shaqiri is the only player who there seems to be noise about going, and let's say we get our money back, maybe £13m.
Origi is clearly surplus to requirements but can we even get shut of him. Book value about £5m. I can't see anything other than a loan out.
Ben Davies I'm sure will go. We might double our money. Say £4m.
Kostas I can see going. We might get half our money back but I doubt it, maybe a third. Say £4m.
If anyone wants Harry Wilson and he wants to go maybe we could get £12m for him say. A couple of mill for Ojo maybe.
So even if we assume we can persuade some of these lads to leave the club, we're looking at maybe £35m from the squad, without thinking about selling first team players. That'd get us a good squad player. It's the reported fee for a much-needed young CB: Konaté.
That's really treading water. One new CB. Wow. Thanks FSG. With your zero net spend (sponsored by Ferrero Rocher), you're really spoiling us.