Erling Braut Haaland to Liverpool?
It’s only a rumour, and a wild one at that, but one that Kopites will find themselves clinging to in these uncertain times.
From “last in the queue” for the hottest property in football, the Reds have suddenly jumped to the front, according to Sky Germany.
His signing would be “the clincher” in keeping Mo Salah is the argument being used, albeit not a convincing one.
For a start, we can’t be sure the Egyptian King would be so keen to share the glory – and gilt-edged chances – with another superstar.
Especially a striker with a similarly selfish streak.
And expecting Liverpool’s American owners FSG to break the bank for both you have to be living in dreamland.
According to the sums being mentioned, a raid on Fort Knox might still leave them having to offer Divock Origi in part exchange.
In fact, there’s more chance of the Reds buying Haaland to placate a disaffected fan base if they do allow Salah to leave.
Anyway, SportBild says Manchester United are “the only realistic bidders in the Haaland poker.”
Also, Liverpool are nowhere in the betting with the usual suspects of Real Madrid, PSG and Manchester City among the long-standing favourites to land the 21-year-old.
Expect more of these contrary rumours between now and the summer window when it is likely that the Norwegian will leave Borussia Dortmund.
But the issue does focus the mind about the future while the prospect of adding Haaland to the fabled Front Three is nothing if not mouthwatering.
FSG still need to win over the fans, many of whom have not forgiven them for signing up to the European Super League.
Involving Liverpool, who still think of themselves as a “people’s club” allied to the socialist principles of Bill Shankly, with that cravenly capitalist money-grabbing venture was the biggest mistake they could have made.
At a stroke, it wiped out the goodwill that had taken them a decade – amid many false steps – to painstakingly earn.
Coming on top of the Big Picture, a plan that would have created its own elite within the Premier League, it relegated John Henry and his cohorts to the ranks of vulture capitalists.
In fact, for 72 hours, they shared hate-figure status with their cowboy predecessors, Hicks and Gillett.
A headline in the esteemed website “This is Anfield” screamed: “We are all ‘FSG Out’ now.”
But a grovelling apology and subsequent concessions to fan involvement, led by the Spirit of Shankly union, along with success on the field has diluted the sense of betrayal.
But not everyone has been won over, grave doubts still linger and, as they had to before, FSG need to make a statement to restore confidence.
In early 2018, more than two years into Jurgen Klopp’s reign and still without a trophy, Liverpool broke the world record for a defender by signing Virgil van Dijk for £75 million.
It was a game changer.
And when they followed it with another world record fee (for a goalkeeper) £56m for Alisson, the two gaping holes in defence were filled and anti-FSG sentiment all but disappeared.
As things currently stand, they need to do something similar.
But not being a benefactor club and suffering the ill wind of Covid-19 more than their better-heeled rivals, Liverpool are not in rude financial health.
It’s why they’ve spent little since the pandemic hit, not properly replacing the injured centre-backs last season and buying only Ibrahima Konate this time.
Nor is there any indication they will reach into their pockets to fill the holes left when Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita are lost to the African Nations Cup next month.
Some fans – and there is an argument here – cling to the hope that because there’s no ideal replacement available at the right price, the club would rather wait for the right player to come along – and then spend big.
Wishful thinking perhaps, but there is the precedent of Van Dijk and Alisson. Hence the hope that next summer could see a major signing.
Another reason Liverpool may be in with a shout is that Haaland has a release clause in his contract believed to be less than €100m.
It’s perhaps half his market value that would have confined him to the state-owned clubs – PSG, City and Newcastle.
If the giant Viking goal machine may be a long shot, more realistic is his teammate, the 18-year-old England midfield prodigy, Jude Bellingham.
He is likely to cost north of €50m too but is probably a better fit for the moneyball modus operandi that FSG prefer.
But the owner’s first priority is to extend the contract of Salah, currently the world’s best player in the eyes of many good judges.
FSG are understandably reluctant to break their wage ceiling, but to allow their star man to leave would precisely send the wrong message just when they need to send the right one.
To their players and fans, Liverpool are a football club first, second and third and a business some way below.
Any doubts and look at the way a raucous Anfield celebrated the comeback League Cup win over Leicester in midweek.
You win the trophy and the prize money is only £100,000 – not even half a week’s pay for top players.
But you’d have thought they’d won the Champions League after Diogo Jota put away the clinching penalty.
And that’s just to reach the semis where they face Arsenal.
Liverpool consider themselves “European royalty” for their exploits in the European Cup/Champions League but they aim to be king of kings in the League Cup.
Joint-top winners with City on eight, they’ve been runners-up four times.
And there just may be a win-win situation when it comes to signings.
Sky Germany may have been right with their “clincher” argument but wrong about who a Haaland arrival might persuade to stay at Anfield.
Salah, hopefully, will have already been signed up, but there’s another key employee whose contract is expiring.
Jurgen Klopp would surely have to think twice about leaving in 2024 if given a once-in-a-generation player to work with.
And that just might make business sense to FSG.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.