Liverpool needs to stick to transfer strategy and not get pulled into Man City approach

Liverpool must not abandon the transfer policy the club has followed across recent years this summer. The Reds are currently linked with a move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who might not even make the starting line-up under Arne Slot.

This is not a question of Guehi's ability - his performance for England against Serbia in the opening game of England's Euro 2024 campaign told the footballing world all they need to know how good he really is. It's a question of Liverpool stockpiling expensive assets.

It was an outing which highlighted why Palace have slapped a $82million (£65m/€76m) price tag on the player amid interest from Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Guehi is now experienced in the top flight of English football and, after looking at home on the international stage, you can only assume the Champions League would also follow suit.

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So why wouldn't Liverpool explore a move? Well, there are four reasons. Regardless of injuries, with Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez amongst the squad, does it make sense for the club to spend such a substantial amount of money on a player who might not be involved every week?

Manchester City has made a habit of doing just this in recent years. The likes of Jack Grealish, Matheus Nunes and Kalvin Phillips are clear examples of this. Players who have cost millions of pounds, only to barely feature.

Liverpool needs reinforcements in defense, with specific reference to the left center-back role, but needs to find a sensible balance between the transfer fee and the role that the player will have amongst the team. The possible transfer of Waldemar Anton from VfB Stuttgart seems more reasonable, given the $24m (£19m/€22m) release clause in his contract.

A move like this would allow additional bodies to arrive at the AXA Training Centre, depth to be introduced across multiple positions and funds to be available for Slot to invest in other areas of the squad.

Liverpool.com says: Liverpool has previously attempted to spend big on a player like Moises Caicedo - who likely would've started most games for the club given the fact Wataru Endõ arrived as an alternative. Darwin Nunez was also signed as the lone striker for the team and although he hasn't lived up to expectations as of yet, the club has refrained from signing another striker and stockpiling assets. Big money signings are frequent in football throughout the modern era, smart decisions are less so.