Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has called on the club to splash the cash this summer, suggesting an audacious £150million swoop for three Tottenham stars.
The Reds have just had their most successful season in many years under Jurgen Klopp, with defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday illustrating their progress.
Collymore has now called on the club’s owners to capitalise on their success this season to push on and become a real force in European football.
In a column for the Mirror, he said: “By reaching two European finals in three seasons, Klopp has shown he can manage. And now FSG have to demonstrate their commitment too by using the £75m-plus generated by this run and back their man in the transfer market.
“I am not talking about signing the likes of Andy Robertson – as good as he has been. I am talking about wandering into White Hart Lane, plonking £150m on the table in front of Daniel Levy and saying: ‘I’ll give you that for Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld and Dele Alli.’
“Arsenal’s then mover-and-shaker David Dein said about Roman Abramovich – when the Russian first appeared at Chelsea – that he had parked a tank on their lawn and was firing £50 notes at them. Well, I want FSG and head honcho John W. Henry to do that at the two Manchester clubs.”
OPINION
It is hard to disagree with Collymore’s sentiment here. The club need to capitalise on this success to push on next season, as there may never be a better chance to cement Liverpool’s place among the European elite. The cash that is set to come in to the club from the Champions League and Premier League campaigns should be a game changer, and should allow Klopp to spend as he sees fit this summer. However, Collymore’s suggestion of a triple swoop for Alli, Alderweireld and Eriksen is totally outlandish, and would simply never happen. In truth, it is statements like that which really diminish Collymore’s credibility as a pundit. Anyhow, the sentiment is correct. Big money will need to be spent this summer or this big opportunity could be gone. The Reds’ loss in the final already leaves them in a more precarious position in Europe next season as they are in pot three, meaning a group of death is a real possibility.
