Liverpool’s Summer of Power Plays: FSG Seize Their Moment

The Reds Are Dominating the Transfer Window and FSG's Critics Can’t Cope

There’s a couple of things that those who despise Fenway Sports Group don’t understand. The first is that they like winning. John W Henry and co love being on the pitch when Liverpool are lifting trophies. They relish the adoration of the crowd.

Henry once explained to me what these moments are like. When the Boston Red Sox won the World Series after an 86-year-old drought, FSG’s main man was overwhelmed by the reaction of fans towards him. Essentially, he’s a nerd. When his teams win, he gets to feel the sort of love that athletes regularly experience.

Of course, neither Henry nor his ownership colleagues will bankrupt themselves chasing glory. You can be sure of that.

The other thing is that FSG are opportunists. That was apparent when they bought the club 15 years ago. It was an undervalued asset and they leapt all over it.

The opportunism hasn’t always worked in their favour. The acquisition of Federico Chiesa last summer hasn’t worked out. The tactic hardly ever succeeds from a position of weakness.

But when you’re in a position of strength? Take every opportunity to put the boot in on your rivals. That’s what Liverpool are doing this summer.

Liverpool Move from Opportunists to Power Players

When was the last time the club recruited a player who was wanted by everyone else? Fernando Torres, maybe? Florian Wirtz really is a landmark signing. It signals that Anfield is the destination of choice for Europe’s finest.

Now, in other years, FSG might have looked at the arrival of Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez and thought, ‘that’s enough for this year.’ And who would have complained? Even the transfer ultras would have been happy.

Not this summer. Liverpool are not stopping. Before the transfer window opened, astute observers thought it was possible that the club could spend £250 million. That may be an underestimate. Hugo Ekitike is keen to join the Arne Slot revolution. The Eintracht Frankfurt forward would much rather come to Anfield than join Newcastle United.

Then there’s Alexander Isak, the jewel in the crown at St James’ Park. Trying to prise the Swede away from the Saudi-owned petroclub is about as audacious a move as you get. Richard Hughes would not have made contact without encouragement from the striker’s camp. Isak has a year left on his contract. Newcastle are being bullied.

FSG’s Long Game Pays Off Amid Rivals’ Chaos

Things could not have come together in a more propitious manner for FSG. The Profit and Sustainability Rules have worked brilliantly for them. A decade and a half ago, Henry talked about finding “my own Sheikh” to counter the growing power of Manchester City. Now they don’t need to. Liverpool are on the right side of PSR.

City are struggling. They have 115 charges for financial irregularity hanging over them and Pep Guardiola appears to have lost some of his, er, pep. Top class players might not want to risk going to the Etihad, even for piles of oil money.

There’s a staleness about Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s window to win a title may have closed. Tottenham Hotspur need a lot of work. Manchester United are the object of hilarity.

Chelsea became World Club Champions but playing competitively until mid July can’t help them next season. Plus, there’s still an air of chaos around Stamford Bridge.

Even so, none of this would help much without the transformational impact of Slot and the unexpected title win. Paris Saint-Germain ended last season as the best team in the world but would you expect to say this in a year’s time, especially after their weary-looking performance against Chelsea in New Jersey last week. Liverpool look like the healthiest club in Europe at the moment in terms of finances, personnel and stability.

Slot’s Spark and a Squad Ready to Compete

No one can predict the impact of Diogo Jota’s death and the way collective sadness might affect the squad but once the focus returns to competitive football, you’d expect the players to leave their grief off the pitch.

Liverpool have never had a better opportunity to replenish the playing staff. FSG have recognised this – to the bewilderment of their critics. The American owners will never spend for the sake of it but have opened the coffers because the time is right.

Henry and his mates would love another day on the pitch at Anfield next May taking the plaudits of the Kop. And maybe an excursion to Budapest later that month. This is the chance of a lifetime and Liverpool are going for it.

The downside of being a transfer powerhouse is that it gives fewer opportunities for graduates of the academy. It will be much tougher for youngsters to force their way into the first team.

Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool was a brilliant place for the kids. Part of this was forced on the manager. Klopp inherited a sub-par squad and needed to find players anywhere he could. The German had the sort of personality, too, that could sell supporters the idea that this was a positive scenario.

It was, too. But what made the real difference in the Klopp resurgence was the recruitment of two fully-formed, top-class players for big money. The arrival of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker was like a rocket boost in the right direction.

This summer Hughes is looking for men who will go straight into the team. The title-winning first XI were pretty good and they’ve been bolstered by some real class. It’s hard to see a route for the next Trent Alexander-Arnold (if there could ever be another like him).

Expect to see the club cashing in on academy products. It could be hard times for kids at Kirkby who dream of playing for Liverpool in the Premier League.