When Jurgen Klopp was announced as the new Liverpool manager, taking the reins from Brendan Rodgers back in October, Reds fans were confident of a bright future ahead. After a satisfactory first season at the club, reaching both the League Cup and Europa League final, this summer was tipped as a huge one for the Merseysiders if they were to regain a place in the top four.
While the Reds only finished in a very modest 8th position last season, their success in cup competitions was only used as a secondary reason for a disappointing league finish. The primary justification was that the squad Klopp was inheriting was not one in his image. He would need to get rid of the deadwood and bring in players that he could mould into a team capable of deploying his style of play.
That much, of course, is a project but such is the industry these days that long term projects are few and far between. The progress that the club has made in the transfer market is encouraging to a degree then. Liverpool have cashed in on the likes of Martin Skrtel and Jordon Ibe, while Joe Allen is set to follow having all played bit part roles last season, while Adam Bogdan and Kolo Toure have also left the club.
Meanwhile Joel Matip and Marko Grujic have both joined up with the squad having secured transfers in January only to stay on at Schalke and Red Star Belgrade respectively until the end of the season. The club were then quick to sign Loris Karius to provide competition for the much maligned Simon Mignolet, before splashing out on Sadio Mane with a fee that could rise close to their £35m transfer record.
The recent signing of Ragnar Klavan - a 30-year old Estonian centre-back that has never really attracted interest in the past - raised a few eyebrows, though in truth he was signed as back-up in a position where Liverpool needed an experienced head following the departures of Skrtel and Toure. The club’s latest foray into the market is instead perhaps the most baffling, as they are set to secure the signature of Newcastle midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.
That’s not to say the Dutch international isn’t a capable player, he showed in the first half of last season that he was able to adjust to the English game, but that doesn’t stop this particular deal from striking as slightly odd. Perhaps the main reason for that is the price that Liverpool are seemingly willing to pay for a player that dipped in form substantially when Newcastle desperately needed their best players to perform.
A return of 11 goals in a midfielder’s opening campaign in the Premier League is impressive on the face of it, and certainly deserves credit. However, the fact that the final two of that haul came on the last day of the season to end a 15-game goalless streak highlights that Wijnaldum’s form had declined rapidly. Indeed, after scoring 4 goals in a frankly bizarre 6-2 win over Norwich in October, the Dutchman scored in just 4 of 29 league appearances thereafter.
The former PSV captain’s figures then, following an excellent start to life in the North East, were modest to say the least in most departments. Averages of 1.4 tackles, 1.4 dribbles, 1.2 key passes and 1 tackle per game were all solid but unspectacular, leading to a rating from WhoScored.com that mirrored as much (6.91).
At 25 and after just one season in England’s top-flight the midfielder still has time to improve and his versatility is an asset, capable of playing in any central midfield role or from the left. Nevertheless, with statistical weaknesses of tackling and defensive contribution he would have some adapting to do to cope with the pressing demands of Klopp, criticised by some sections of the Newcastle support for allowing his levels of both performance and passion to drop since the turn of the year.
Then, of course, there is the fact that Liverpool already seem well stocked in midfield areas, particularly in terms of offensive, central positions. Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana all like to operate in that role, so adding another player that is comfortable in support of a lone striker doesn’t seem like a particularly pressing need, or at least one worth spending £25m on given the impressive displays of Grujic so far this summer.
So where does Wijnaldum fit into all of that? It’s here that the reason for Liverpool’s interest may lie. While the midfielder has preferred to operate from the middle in the past, his efficacy was arguably better felt from the left for Newcastle last season. Indeed, Wijnaldum actually started 19 of 36 league starts from that flank, scoring 8 goals - including the four against Norwich - and registering two assists from that position. A rating of 7.01 from the left wing remains modest but is an increase on an average of 6.83 from 17 starts in central positions last season.
If, then, Klopp chooses to utilise the Dutchman on the left side of a three behind the striker, that would allow Coutinho to operate behind the focal point, getting the most from the Brazilian’s talents. Indeed, the 24-year old only started six league matches in the number 10 role last season, but scored 3 goals, registering 2 assists and securing a rating of 7.55 - up from an average of 7.21 in his remaining 20 appearances. Looking to get the best of Coutinho is certainly understandable then, though questions will remain over whether Wijnaldum is the best Liverpool could get to achieve as much.
Having been accused of overpaying for Premier League talent on multiple occasions in recent years, there’s no doubt that the outlay on Wijnaldum represents a significant gamble. It’s the same fee that they spent on Lallana two summers ago and the two will likely be in direct competition next season. The Englishman is certainly seems equipped to heed Klopp’s demands, and is arguably a better player technically than the Dutch international, who instead has the edge when it comes to providing the goals the club need to compete at the top level once more.
Given their lack of European commitments though, strength in depth in that area should surely be low down on Liverpool’s list of priorities. Certainly not Liverpool's first, second or perhaps even third choice, this deal appears a little desparate where desparation was not needed. While unlikely to be set to fall on his sword quite like Rodgers did, Klopp is certainly proving willing to take that risk.
Does Wijnaldum represent good business for Liverpool at £25m? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
