This Isn't the Transfer Rumour You're Looking For

There really isn’t a point to some transfer rumours, but fans are desperate enough that there will usually be enough interest in a story that has less reliability than a post-Rafa Liverpool defence. The latest is a Chelsea youngster after £50,000 a week to stay, but will leave for Liverpool instead. Dominic Solanke is reported to be on £7,000 per week but wants quite the payrise to remain at a club he’s been with since 2004.

This isn’t even worthy of “Rumour Mongering” and raising a solitary eyebrow in token curiosity. It should be presented as the baseless nonsense that it is. Antonio Conte seemed to confirm that the 19-year-old was on the way out of Chelsea, but Liverpool will not pay ridiculous wages for youngsters when even Chelsea refuse to do so.

In October, it was reported that Liverpool would introduce a salary cap for Academy players to prevent a “too much, too soon” culture. Even top transfer targets aren’t lured with vast sums of money to turn down rival clubs. The combination of Klopp, the opportunity to develop, an exciting footballing philosopy, and Liverpool’s standing are all expected to make a difference along with a competitive financial offer. Champions League football and regularly competing at the sharp end of the season, though, would make Liverpool’s offers far more attractive.

If a talented youngster is looking for playing time at Liverpool that he is not quite getting at another big club, following the path of Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge might not be such a bad idea. That would be on the proviso that they are as talented as the pair and can genuinely add to the exisiting squad. Solanke scored 7 goals in 25 league appearances for Chelsea’s reserve team last season and has featured at various youth levels for England.

Maybe he’s going to be the one that got away for Chelsea, maybe he’s going to Liverpool as he has apparently told friends, but Liverpool won’t be offering him anything close to what he wants at Chelsea. The papers peddling these stories with sensational headlines know this, Liverpool fans know this, and surely Solanke knows this too.

While we’re at it, let’s deal with whatever might come between now and the trip to the King Power Stadium. Joe Hart, Christian Pulisic, Marco Reus, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Arda Turan aren’t coming to Liverpool. Liverpool might need a new goalkeeper, but forget about Kasper Schmeichel. At least be creative. Do Liverpool need a reliable partner for Joël Matip? If you’re Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren is already the answer. The past three seasons, however, indicate that Liverpool must try to find a better one. Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool FC? Perhaps. Probably not.

We already know how Liverpool approach the transfer market, and three transfer windows under Klopp have been just as instructive as the FSG era. Liverpool will push for some very good players, they’ll generally be no older than their mid-twenties, and they’ll have to fit Klopp’s tactical, physical, and technical demands. Players will be encouraged to earn a top wage through their performances at Liverpool but will be offered competitive wages. Foul eggs need not apply.