Jörg Schmadtke’s first transfer window at Liverpool is taking shape more clearly, but the new sporting director must be prepared to deviate from plan occasionally.
It is an unchangeable bad plan. Although Jörg Schmadtke’s transfer strategy is unlikely to be directly influenced by this piece of proverbial advice, Liverpool can learn a thing or two from the Roman proverb, which emphasizes the value of flexibility.
Without a doubt, Schmadtke has been quickly informed of Liverpool’s situation and his priorities have been made clear for the upcoming transfer window. The defense also needs to be strengthened, but the midfield most urgently needs additions.
A successful summer would involve completing those tasks.
However, Jürgen Klopp’s advice should also be heeded.
Before the season ended, he promised that Liverpool would ‘look at all areas of the pitch’ in the transfer market and take advantage of any opportunities that presented themselves.
A chance of this nature appears to be approaching. While the attack may not be high on Schmadtke’s priority list, the possibility of a wonderkid with the credentials to eventually succeed Mohamed Salah should make him rethink his position.
Everything at Lyon is not right. According to RMC Sport, the French team needs to raise $143m (£111m/€130m) this summer to avoid being penalized, and as a result, several key players have been effectively put on a transfer list. Particularly mentioned as a player who would be sold for the right price is Rayan Cherki.
Cherki has previously been a target for Liverpool. The 19-year-old has since signed a new contract, but it only lasts through 2025, and a transfer seems to be on the horizon, according to AS, which claimed that the Reds had inquired about his situation in January of last year. The person in front of the line should be Schmadtke.
Top clubs appear to be reluctant to purchase from Lyon. That most likely had something to do with a fearsome reputation for negotiating under the previous president Jean-Michel Aulas. The strength of the French league, however, raises some other possible concerns. Many-hyped players like Houssem Aouar, who will now transfer to Roma on a free transfer, and of course Nabil Fekir, who went to Real Betis, have ultimately made somewhat unexpected moves.
However, some worries should be allayed by Bruno Guimares’ success at Newcastle. Liverpool won’t be happy about missing out on Cherki, and it shouldn’t happen with the other player.
He has established himself as a prodigious talent by putting up the kind of numbers that would draw interest from any top team. A bid of more than $22 million (£17 million/€20 million) was reportedly rejected by PSG in January, according to L’Equipe. There is definitely room for a good Liverpool deal, but Lyon will likely continue to hold on for longer than that this summer despite its financial situation.
In order to take into account an intriguing development at Lyon, Jörg Schmadtke should modify the Liverpool transfer strategy.
Salah is one of Cherki’s top 10 players who are most comparable to him on FBref. He consistently uses both feet, which is crucial for Liverpool. In fact, a youth coach once told 20 Minutes that he “never knew what his strong foot was.”. That would enable him to occupy the position to Klopp’s right without having to change the current strategy, unlike Bradley Barcola, another exciting Lyon player who may be on the market.
Although Cherki and Salah have some similarities, Cherki is actually more of a Neymar figure. He has a 98th percentile progressive carry rate and a 99th percentile successful take-on rate among the top five leagues in Europe. With the ball at his feet, he is amazing.
