:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47067098/GettyImages-456474922.0.jpg)
It's that time of the year again as transfer deadline day is upon us. Good people of this virtual room, feast your eyes on the lack of options and stories probably awaiting your eager fingertips. While rival clubs fumble around with paperwork or scrape the bargain bins for defensive inspiration, your beloved club can rise above such an existence after a summer that did not lack conviction.
Whether one is satisfied with Liverpool's signings or not, there has been swift and decisive action this summer. With the exception of Memphis Depay, Liverpool have successfully moved and secured all the main transfer targets in this window. Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino, Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner, Joe Gomez, Divock Origi, Danny Ings, and Adam Bogdan were all recruited before the start of the season. Origi was signed last summer but arrived after a further season at Lille to develop his game.
For incoming transfers, it is extremely difficult to see anyone else coming in unless an chain of events conspire to produce a new signing. FSG have supported Brendan Rodgers with significant investment, and furthermore, the signings appear to be hand-picked by a manager entering a crucial season. As a result, there is very little to be done. A youth player or two may be an unexpected surprise, such as yesterday's signing of Nigerian youngster Taiwo Awoniyi. Young players with potential are always welcome at a club that can be rightly seen as an attractive destination for future stars.
There could be merit in signing a left back to compete with Alberto Moreno, enabling Joe Gomez to move inside to his natural position in central defence. A defensive midfielder to supplant, work with, or stand in for Lucas Leiva would be a wise move to make. However, the presence of Emre Can as a possible successor along with the manager's aversion for defensive midfielders render such a move nigh on impossible. Shifting back to the left of defence, Moreno has not started any of the four league games so far. Young Joe Gomez is currently preferred, and with Jon Flanagan to return in December, Rodgers may feel that there is sufficient depth there.
Fabio Borini could have been one of the primary outgoing players in this particular tale, but the Italian striker finally joined Sunderland yesterday. He joined an exit list of first-team squad players that includes Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Brad Jones, Rickie Lambert, and Sebastián Coates. All eyes will be on the high-earning José Enrique as well as the talented yet seemingly invisible Tiago Ilori. Enrique is the remaining member of the "alienated" trio still at the club, and a permanent departure is likely. Ilori has been loaned out to Granada and Bordeaux in his two seasons at the club but needs to surmount his injury problems for a regular run of games, wherever that may be.
Loans may be the primary method of departures, and two youngsters were sent on loan to Brentford and FC Luzern on Monday. Lucas Leiva and Mamadou Sakho may crop up, but if this world is to continue just about making sense, both should still be Liverpool players after the transfer window closes. We might not be Jim White, but there will be updates throughout the day as news and rumours filter through.
